Oxazolidines containing a sulfonimid group as antibiotics

ABSTRACT

Compounds of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or an in-vivo-hydrolysable ester thereof,  
                 
 
wherein, for example, HET is an N-linked 5-membered, fully or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring, or an N-linked 6-membered di-hydro-heteroaryl ring; and Q is, for example, Q1 or Q2:  
                 
 
wherein R 2  and R 3  are independently hydrogen or fluoro; T is selected, for example, from a group of the formula (TA1) or (TA2):  
                 
 
wherein, for example, X 1m  is O═ and X 2m  is R 2s —(E) ms —N—; wherein E is an electron withdrawing group, for example, —SO 2 — or —CO—; and, for example, R 2s  is hydrogen or (1-6C)alkyl; are useful as pharmaceutical agents; and processes for their manufacture and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of International Application No. PCT/GB02/01644, filed Apr. 3, 2002, which claims priority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0108765.9, filed Apr. 7, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/330,588, filed Oct. 25, 2001, the specifications of which are incorporated by reference herein. International Application No. PCT/GB02/01644 was published under PCT Article 21(2) in English.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to antibiotic compounds and in particular to antibiotic compounds containing a substituted oxazolidinone ring. This invention further relates to processes for their preparation, to intermediates useful in their preparation, to their use as therapeutic agents and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The international microbiological community continues to express serious concern that the evolution of antibiotic resistance could result in strains against which currently available antibacterial agents will be ineffective. In general, bacterial pathogens may be classified as either Gram-positive or Gram-negative pathogens. Antibiotic compounds with effective activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens are generally regarded as having a broad spectrum of activity. The compounds of the present invention are regarded as effective against both Gram-positive and certain Gram-negative pathogens.

Gram-positive pathogens, for example Staphylococci, Enterococci, and Streptococci are particularly important because of the development of resistant strains which are both difficult to treat and difficult to eradicate from the hospital environment once established. Examples of such strains are methicillin resistant staphylococcus (MRSA), methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS), penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and multiply resistant Enterococcus faecium.

The major clinically effective antibiotic for treatment of such resistant Gram-positive pathogens is vancomycin. Vancomycin is a glycopeptide and is associated with nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Furthermore, and most importantly, antibacterial resistance to vancomycin and other glycopeptides is also appearing. This resistance is increasing at a steady rate rendering these agents less and less effective in the treatment of Gram-positive pathogens. There is also now increasing resistance appearing towards agents such as lactams, quinolones and macrolides used for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, also caused by certain Gram negative strains including H.influenzae and M.catarrhalis.

Certain antibacterial compounds containing an oxazolidinone ring have been described in the art (for example, Walter A. Gregory et al in J. Med. Chem. 1990, 33, 2569-2578 and Chung-Ho Park et al in J. Med. Chem. 1992, 35, 1156-1165). Such antibacterial oxazolidinone compounds with a 5-acetamidomethyl sidechain may be subject to mammalian peptidase metabolism. Furthermore, bacterial resistance to known antibacterial agents may develop, for example, by (i) the evolution of active binding sites in the bacteria rendering a previously active pharmacophore less effective or redundant, (ii) the evolution of means to chemically deactivate a given pharmacophore and/or (iii) the development and/or up-regulation of efflux mechanisms. Therefore, there remains an ongoing need to find new antibacterial agents with a favourable pharmacological profile, in particular for compounds containing new pharmacophores.

We have discovered a new class of antibiotic compounds containing an aryl substituted oxazolidinone ring in which the aryl ring is itself substituted by certain novel sulfilimine and sulfoximine-containing rings. These compounds have useful activity against Gram-positive pathogens including MRSA and MRCNS and, in particular, against various strains exhibiting resistance to vancomycin and against E. faecium strains resistant to both aminoglycosides and clinically used β-lactams, but also to fastidious Gram negative strains such as H.influenzae, M.catarrbalis, mycoplasma spp. and chlamydial strains.

Accordingly the present invention provides a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or an in-vivo-hydrolysable ester thereof,

wherein

-   -   i) HET is an N-linked 5-membered, fully or partially unsaturated         heterocyclic ring, containing either (i) 1 to 3 further nitrogen         heteroatoms or (ii) a further heteroatom selected from O and S         together with an optional further nitrogen heteroatom; which         ring is optionally substituted on a C atom, other than a C atom         adjacent to the linking N atom, by an oxo or thioxo group;         and/or which ring is optionally substituted on any available C         atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by a         substituent selected from (1-4C)alkyl, (2-4C)alkenyl,         (3-6C)cycloalkyl, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino, di-(1-4C)alkylamino,         (1-4C)alkylthio, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, halogen,         cyano and trifluoromethyl and/or on an available nitrogen atom         (provided that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by         (1-4C)alkyl; or     -   HET (which may also be described as —N-HET herein) is an         N-linked 6-membered di-hydro-heteroaryl ring containing up to         three nitrogen heteroatoms in total (including the linking         heteroatom), which ring is substituted on a suitable C atom,         other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by oxo or         thioxo and/or which ring is optionally substituted on any         available C atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N         atom, by one or two substituents independently selected from         (1-4C)alkyl, (2-4C)alkenyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, amino,         (1-4C)alkylamino, di-(1-4C)alkylamino, (1-4C)alkylthio,         (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, cyano and         trifluoromethyl and/or on an available nitrogen atom (provided         that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by (1-4C)alkyl; and         wherein at each occurrence of alkyl, alkenyl and cycloalkyl HET         substituents, each is optionally substituted with one or more F,         Cl or CN; or     -   ii) HET is selected from the structures (Za) to (Zf) below:         wherein u and v are independently 0 or 1;     -   RT is selected from a substituent from the group (RTa) wherein         RT is hydrogen, halogen, (1-4C)alkoxy, (2-4C)alkenyloxy,         (2-4C)alkenyl, (2-4C)alkynyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl,         (3-6C)cycloalkenyl, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino,         di-(1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino,         (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino,         (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—,         (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH— or (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)q-         (wherein q is 0, 1 or 2);     -   or RT is selected from the group (RTb) wherein RT is a         (1-4C)alkyl group which is optionally substituted by one         substituent selected from hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, amino, cyano,         azido, (2-4C)alkenyloxy, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino,         (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino,         (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—,         (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—,         (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)q- (wherein q is 0, 1 or         2), (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (3-6C)cycloalkenyl, or an N-linked         5-membered heteroaryl ring, which ring contains either (i) 1 to         3 further nitrogen heteroatoms or (ii) a further heteroatom         selected from O and S together with an optional further nitrogen         heteroatom; which ring is optionally substituted on a carbon         atom by an oxo or thioxo group; and/or the ring is optionally         substituted on a carbon atom by 1 or 2 (1-4C)alkyl groups;         and/or on an available nitrogen atom (provided that the ring is         not thereby quatermised) by (1-4C)alkyl;     -   or RT is selected from a group of formula (RTc1) to (RTc3):     -   (RTc1) a fully saturated 4-membered monocyclic ring containing 1         or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S         (optionally oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen or carbon         atom; or     -   (RTc2) a saturated or unsaturated 5-membered monocyclic ring         containing 1 heteroatom selected from O, N and S (optionally         oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen atom if the ring is         not thereby quatermised, or a ring carbon atom; or     -   (RTc3) a saturated or unsaturated 6- to 8-membered monocyclic         ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from         O, N and S (optionally oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen         atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised, or a ring carbon         atom;     -   wherein said rings in (RTc1) to (RTc3) are optionally         substituted on an available carbon atom by 1 or 2 substituents         independently selected from hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, amino, cyano,         azido, (2-4C)alkenyloxy, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino,         (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino,         (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—,         (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—,         (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)q- (wherein q is 0, 1 or         2), (3-6C)cycloalkyl or (3-6C)cycloalkenyl;     -   or RT is selected from the group (RTd) cyano, nitro, azido,         formyl, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl or (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl; and wherein         at each occurrence of an RT substituent containing an alkyl,         alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl moiety in (RTa),         (RTb) or (RTc1) to (RTc3) each such moiety is optionally further         substituted on an available carbon atom with one or more         substituents independently selected from F and Cl and/or by one         cyano group;     -   Q is selected from Q1 to Q10:         wherein R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; wherein         A₁ is carbon or nitrogen; B₁ is O or S (or, in Q9 only, NH);         X_(q) is O, S or N—R¹ (wherein R¹ is hydrogen, (1-4C)alkyl or         hydroxy-(1-4C)alkyl); and wherein in Q7 each A₁ is independently         selected from carbon or nitrogen, with a maximum of 2 nitrogen         heteroatoms in the 6-membered ring, and Q7 is linked to T via         any of the A₁ atoms (when A₁ is carbon), and linked in the         5-membered ring via the specified carbon atom, or via A₁ when A₁         is carbon; Q8 and Q10 are linked to T via either of the         specified carbon atoms in the 5-membered ring, and linked in the         benzo-ring via either of the two specified carbon atoms on         either side of the linking bond shown; and Q9 is linked via         either of the two specified carbon atoms on either side of the         linking bond shown; wherein T is selected from the groups in         (TA) & (TB) below (wherein AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a and CY are defined hereinbelow); (TA) T is         selected from the following groups (TA1) and (TA2):         wherein:     -   in (TA1), ( )o₁ is 0 or 1 and represents a chain of carbon atoms         (optionally substituted as defined for AR1) of length o₁ and M         is a bond joining the adjacent carbon atoms, or M represents one         or two carbon atoms, and defines a 4- to 7-membered monocyclic         ring, which ring may optionally have one of     -   (i) one double bond between any two ring carbon atoms; or     -   (ii) a C1-C3 bridge connecting any two appropriate, non-adjacent         ring carbon atoms, which bridge may optionally contain one         heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or     -   (iii) a C2-C5 cyclic moiety including a ring carbon atom to         define a spiro C2-C5 ring system, which ring may optionally         contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or     -   (iv) a C1-C4 bridge connecting adjacent carbon atoms to define a         fused ring, wherein a C2-C4 bridge may optionally contain one         heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; wherein Rc is as         defined hereinafter;     -   wherein in (TA2), ( )n₁ and ( )o₁ are independently 0, 1 or 2         and represent chains of carbon atoms (optionally substituted as         defined for ARl) of length n₁ and o₁ respectively, and define a         4- to 8-membered monocyclic ring, which ring may optionally have         one of     -   (i) a C1-C3 bridge connecting any two appropriate, non-adjacent         ring carbon atoms, which bridge contains one heteroatom selected         from oxygen or >NRc; or     -   (ii) a C2-C5 cyclic moiety including a ring carbon atom to         define a spiro C2-C5 ring system, which ring may optionally         contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or     -   (iii) a C1-C4 bridge connecting adjacent carbon atoms to define         a fused ring, wherein a C2-C4 bridge may optionally contain one         heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; wherein Rc is as         defined hereinafter; and     -   wherein in (TA1) and (TA2), X_(1m) and X_(2m) taken together         represent R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N═; or X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is         R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa;     -   wherein E is an electron withdrawing group selected from —SO₂—,         —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —CS—, —CON(R_(s))—, —SO₂N(R_(s))—, or E         may represent a group of the formula R_(3s)—C(═N—O—R₃s)—C(═O)—,         wherein R_(3s) is H or as defined in R_(2s) at (i) below;     -   or, when E is —CON(R_(s))— or —SO₂N(R_(s))—, R_(2s) and R_(s)         may link together to form a carbon chain which defines a 5- or         6-membered saturated, unsaturated or partially unsaturated ring         linked via the N atom in E, which ring is optionally further         substituted by an oxo substituent, and which ring may be         optionally fused with a phenyl group to form a benzo-fused         system, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted by up         to three substituents independently selected from halo, cyano,         (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkoxy;     -   ms is 0 or 1;     -   R_(2s) and R_(s) are independently selected from:     -   (i) hydrogen (except where E is —SO₂— or —O—CO—), or     -   (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more         (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution) and/or         optionally monosubstituted by cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally         substituted as defined for AR1 herein), optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)q- (q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or         (with the proviso that where R_(2s) is —SO₂ or —O—CO— not on the         first carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally         substituted by one or more groups (including geminal         disubstitution) each independently selected from hydroxy and         fluoro, and/or optionally further substituted, by no more than         one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) herein;     -   or (where ms is 0 only);     -   (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′         [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as defined         for AR1 herein), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a,         AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted as         defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl,         ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl,         2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl,         2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl,         or 2-(AR2a)ethenyl; or     -   (TB) T is selected from the following groups (TB1) to (TB3):         wherein:     -   X_(1m) and X_(2m) taken together represent R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N═;         or     -   X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa;     -   wherein E is an electron withdrawing group selected from —SO₂—,         —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —CS—, —CON(R_(s))—, —SO₂N(R_(s))—, or E         may represent a group of the formula         R_(3s)—C(═N—O—R_(3s))—C(═O)—, wherein R_(3s) is H or as defined         in R_(2s) at (i) below;     -   or, when E is —CON(R_(s))— or —SO₂N(R_(s))—, R_(2s) and R_(s)         may link together to form a carbon chain which defines a 5- or         6-membered saturated, unsaturated or partially unsaturated ring         linked via the N atom in E, which ring is optionally further         substituted by an oxo substituent, and which ring may be         optionally fused with a phenyl group to form a benzo-fused         system, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted by up         to three substituents independently selected from halo, cyano,         (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkoxy;     -   ms is 0 or 1;     -   R_(2s) and R_(s) are independently selected from:     -   (i) hydrogen (except where E is —SO₂— or —O—CO—), or     -   (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more         (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution) and/or         optionally monosubstituted by cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally         substituted as defined for AR1 hereinafter), optionally         substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b,         AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally         substituted as defined) hereinafter, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is         0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso that where R_(2s) is —SO₂         or —O—CO— not on the first carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl         chain) optionally substituted by one or more groups (including         geminal disubstitution) each independently selected from hydroxy         and fluoro, and/or optionally further substituted, by no more         than one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) hereinafter; or (where ms is 0 only);     -   (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′         [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as defined         for AR1 hereinafter), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2,         AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted         as defined hereinafter)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl,         ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl,         2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl,         2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl,         or 2-(AR2a)ethenyl; and     -   wherein ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )p₁ and ( )p_(1′),         represent chains of carbon atoms (optionally substituted as         defined for AR1 hereinafter) of length n₁, o₁, n_(1′), o_(1′),         p₁ and p_(1′) respectively, and are independently 0-2, with the         proviso that in (TB1) and (TB2) the sum of n₁, o₁, n_(1′) and         o_(1′) does not exceed 8 (giving a maximum ring size of 14 in         (TB1) and 11 in (TB2)), and in (TB3) the sum of n₁, o₁, n_(1′),         o_(1′), p₁ and p_(1′) does not exceed 6 (giving a maximum ring         size of 12); wherein Rc is selected from groups (Rc1) to (Rc5):     -   (Rc1) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more         (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution) and/or         optionally monosubstituted by cyano, (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally         substituted as for AR1 defined hereinafter),         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or, on any but the first         carbon atom of the (1-6C)alkyl chain, optionally substituted by         one or more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each         independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or         optionally monosubstituted by oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is         hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)};     -   (Rc2) R¹³CO—, R¹³SO₂— or R¹³CS—     -   wherein R¹³ is selected from (Rc2a) to (Rc2e):     -   (Rc2a) AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a, CY;     -   (Rc2b) hydrogen, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, —NRvRw         [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl], ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl,         2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl,         2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl,         2-(AR2a)ethenyl;     -   (Rc2c) (1-10C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more         groups (including geminal disubstitution) each independently         selected from hydroxy, (1-10C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy,         (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkanoyl, carboxy,         phosphoryl [—O—P(O)(OH)₂, and mono- and di-(1-4C)alkoxy         derivatives thereof], phosphiryl [—O—P(OH)₂ and mono- and         di-(1-4C)alkoxy derivatives thereof], and amino; and/or         optionally substituted by one group selected from phosphonate         [phosphono, —P(O)(OH)₂, and mono- and di-(1-4C)alkoxy         derivatives thereof], phosphinate [—P(OH)₂ and mono- and         di-(1-4C)alkoxy derivatives thereof], cyano, halo,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkylamino, di((1-4C)alkyl)amino, (1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl, di((1-4C)alkyl)aminocarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH—, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N—,         fluoro(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH—,         fluoro(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)((1-4C)alkyl)N—, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)—         [the (1-4C)alkyl group of (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— being optionally         substituted by one substituent selected from hydroxy,         (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkanoyl, phosphoryl [—O—P(O)(OH)₂, and         mono- and di-(1-4C)alkoxy derivatives thereof], phosphiryl         [—O—P(OH)₂ and mono- and di-(1-4C)alkoxy derivatives thereof],         amino, cyano, halo, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy,         (1-4C)alkylamino, di((1-4C)alkyl)amino, (1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl, di((1-4C)alkyl)aminocarbonyl,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH—, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N—,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)—, AR1-S(O)_(q)—, AR2-S(O)_(q)—,         AR³-S(O)_(q)— and also AR2a, AR2b, AR3a and AR3b versions of AR2         and AR3 containing groups], CY, AR1, AR2, AR3, AR1-O—, AR2-O—,         AR3-O—, AR1-S(O)_(q)—, AR2-S(O)_(q)—, AR3-S(O)_(q)—, AR1-NH—,         AR2-NH—, AR3—NH— (p is 1 or 2 and q is 0, 1 or 2), and also         AR2a, AR2b, AR3a and AR3b versions of AR2 and AR3 containing         groups};     -   (Rc2d) R¹⁴C(O)O(1-6C)alkyl wherein R¹⁴ is AR1, AR2,         (1-4C)alkylamino (the (1-4C)alkyl group being optionally         substituted by (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl or by carboxy),         benzyloxy-(1-4C)alkyl or (1-10C)alkyl {optionally substituted as         defined for (Rc2c)};     -   (Rc2e) R¹⁵O— wherein R¹⁵ is benzyl, (1-6C)alkyl {optionally         substituted as defined for     -   (Rc2c)}, CY, or AR2b;     -   (Rc3) hydrogen, cyano, 2-cyanoethenyl,         2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl,         2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl,         or of the formula (Rc3a)         wherein X⁰⁰ is —OR¹⁷, —SR¹⁷, —NHR¹⁷ and —N(R¹⁷)₂;     -   wherein R¹⁷ is hydrogen (when X⁰⁰ is —NHR¹⁷ and —N(R¹⁷)₂), and         R¹⁷ is (1-4C)alkyl, phenyl or AR2 (when X⁰⁰ is —OR¹⁷, —SR¹⁷ and         —NHR¹⁷); and R¹⁶ is cyano, nitro, (1-4C)alkylsulfonyl,         (4-7C)cycloalkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (1-4C)alkanoyl and         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl;     -   (Rc4) trityl, AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b;     -   (Rc5) RdOC(Re)═CH(C═O)—, RfC(═O)C(═O)—, RgN═C(Rh)C(═O)— or         RiNHC(Rj)=CHC(═O)— wherein Rd is (1-6C)alkyl; Re is hydrogen or         (1-6C)alkyl, or Rd and Re together form a (3-4C)alkylene chain;         Rf is hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl, hydroxy(1-6C)alkyl,         (1-6C)alkoxy(1-6C)alkyl, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkoxy,         (1-6C)alkoxy(1-6C)alkoxy, hydroxy(2-6C)alkoxy,         (1-4C)alkylamino(2-6C)alkoxy, di-(1-4C)alkylamino(2-6C)alkoxy;         Rg is (1-6C)alkyl, hydroxy or (1-6C)alkoxy; Rh is hydrogen or         (1-6C)alkyl; Ri is hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl, AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b         and Rj is hydrogen or (1-6C)alkyl;     -   wherein     -   AR1 is an optionally substituted phenyl or optionally         substituted naphthyl;     -   AR2 is an optionally substituted 5- or 6-membered, fully         unsaturated (i.e with the maximum degree of unsaturation)         monocyclic heteroaryl ring containing up to four heteroatoms         independently selected from O, N and S (but not containing any         O—O, O—S or S—S bonds), and linked via a ring carbon atom, or a         ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised;     -   AR2a is a partially hydrogenated version of AR2 (i.e. AR2         systems retaining some, but not the full, degree of         unsaturation), linked via a ring carbon atom or linked via a         ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised;     -   AR2b is a fully hydrogenated version of AR2 (i.e. AR2 systems         having no unsaturation), linked via a ring carbon atom or linked         via a ring nitrogen atom;     -   AR3 is an optionally substituted 8-, 9- or 10-membered, fully         unsaturated (i.e with the maximum degree of unsaturation)         bicyclic heteroaryl ring containing up to four heteroatoms         independently selected from O, N and S (but not containing any         O—O, O—S or S—S bonds), and linked via a ring carbon atom in         either of the rings comprising the bicyclic system;     -   AR3a is a partially hydrogenated version of AR3 (i.e. AR3         systems retaining some, but not the full, degree of         unsaturation), linked via a ring carbon atom, or linked via a         ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised, in         either of the rings comprising the bicyclic system;     -   AR3b is a fully hydrogenated version of AR3 (i.e. AR3 systems         having no unsaturation), linked via a ring carbon atom, or         linked via a ring nitrogen atom, in either of the rings         comprising the bicyclic system;     -   AR4 is an optionally substituted 13- or 14-membered, fully         unsaturated (i.e with the maximum degree of unsaturation)         tricyclic heteroaryl ring containing up to four heteroatoms         independently selected from O, N and S (but not containing any         O—O, O—S or S—S bonds), and linked via a ring carbon atom in any         of the rings comprising the tricyclic system;     -   AR4a is a partially hydrogenated version of AR4 (i.e. AR4         systems retaining some, but not the full, degree of         unsaturation), linked via a ring carbon atom, or linked via a         ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised, in         any of the rings comprising the tricyclic system;     -   CY is an optionally substituted cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl,         cyclohexyl, cyclopentenyl or cyclohexenyl ring.

For the avoidance of doubt in the definition of (TA1) & (TA2) and (TB), it is to be understood that when R_(2s) and R_(s) are independently selected from

-   -   (ii) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted, for example, by no         more than one of each of oxo and —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen         or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl]}, to avoid         duplication with the substituent —CO—NRvRw provided in         section (iii) of the definition for R_(2s) and R_(s), then oxo         and —NRvRw are not to be both selected together when (1-6C)alkyl         is methyl.

For the avoidance of doubt, in the above definitions of TA1, TA2 and TB, ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n₁′, ( )o₁′, ( )p₁ and ( )p₁ indicate (—CH₂—)n₁, (—CH2-)o₁, (—CH2-)n₁′, (—CH2-)o₁′, (—CH2-)p₁ and (—CH2-)p₁′ respectively.

In this specification, HET as an N-linked 5-membered ring, as defined in definition (i) above, may be a fully or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring, provided there is some degree of unsaturation in the ring.

Particular examples of N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl rings containing 2 to 4 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S (with no O—O, O—S or S—S bonds) are preferably rings containing 2 to 4 N atoms, in particular pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,3-triazole (preferably 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl), 1,2,4-triazole (preferably 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) and tetrazole (preferably tetrazol-2-yl).

Particular examples of N-linked 6-membered di-hydro-heteroaryl rings containing up to three nitrogen heteroatoms in total (including the linking heteroatom) include di-hydro versions of pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,3,5-triazine and pyridine.

In this specification, where it is stated that a ring may be linked via an sp² carbon atom, which ring is fully saturated other than (where appropriate) at a linking sp² carbon atom, it is to be understood that the ring is linked via one of the carbon atoms in a C═C double bond.

In this specification the term ‘alkyl’ includes straight chained and branched structures. For example, (1-6C)alkyl includes propyl, isopropyl and tert-butyl. However, references to individual alkyl groups such as “propyl” are specific for the straight chained version only, and references to individual branched chain alkyl groups such as “isopropyl” are specific for the branched chain version only. A similar convention applies to other radicals, for example halo(1-4C)alkyl includes 1-bromoethyl and 2-bromoethyl.

In general “halogen” when present as an aromatic ring substituent is selected from any one of bromine, chlorine or fluorine, as an aliphatic substituent from chlorine or fluorine.

There follow particular and suitable values for certain substituents and groups referred to in this specification. These values may be used where appropriate with any of the definitions and embodiments disclosed hereinbefore, or hereinafter. For the avoidance of doubt each stated species represents a particular and independent aspect of this invention.

Examples of (1-4C)alkyl and (1-5C)alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl and t-butyl; examples of (1-6C)alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, pentyl and hexyl; examples of (1-10C)alkyl include methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl and nonyl; examples of (1-4C)alkanoylamino-(1-4C)alkyl include formamidomethyl, acetamidomethyl and acetamidoethyl; examples of hydroxy(1-4C)alkyl and hydroxy(1-6C)alkyl include hydroxymethyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl and 3-hydroxypropyl; examples of (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl include methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl and propoxycarbonyl; examples of 2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl include 2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethenyl and 2-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethenyl; examples of 2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl include 2-cyano-2-methylethenyl and 2-cyano-2-ethylethenyl; examples of 2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl include 2-nitro-2-methylethenyl and 2-nitro-2-ethylethenyl; examples of 2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl include 2-(methylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl and 2-(ethylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl; examples of (2-4C)alkenyl include allyl and vinyl; examples of (2-4C)alkynyl include ethynyl and 2-propynyl; examples of (1-4C)alkanoyl include formyl, acetyl and propionyl; examples of (1-4C)alkoxy include methoxy, ethoxy and propoxy; examples of (1-6C)alkoxy and (1-10C)alkoxy include methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy and pentoxy; examples of (1-4C)alkylthio include methylthio and ethylthio; examples of (1-4C)alkylamino include methylamino, ethylamino and propylamino; examples of di-((1-4C)alkyl)amino include dimethylamino, N-ethyl-N-methylamino, diethylamino, N-methyl-N-propylamino and dipropylamino; examples of halo groups include fluoro, chloro and bromo; examples of (1-4C)alkylsulfonyl include methylsulfonyl and ethylsulfonyl; examples of (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy and (1-6C)alkoxy-(1-6C)alkoxy include methoxymethoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, 2-ethoxyethoxy and 3-methoxypropoxy; examples of (1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy-(1-4C)alkoxy include 2-(methoxymethoxy)ethoxy, 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy; 3-(2-methoxyethoxy)propoxy and 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy; examples of (1-4C)alkylS(O)₂amino include methylsulfonylamino and ethylsulfonylamino; examples of (1-4C)alkanoylamino and (1-6C)alkanoylamino include formamido, acetamido and propionylamino; examples of (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino include methoxycarbonylamino and ethoxycarbonylamino; examples of N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino include N-methylacetamido, N-ethylacetamido and N-methylpropionamido; examples of (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— wherein p is 1 or 2 include methylsulfinylamino, methylsulfonylamino, ethylsulfinylamino and ethylsulfonylamino; examples of (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)((1-4C)alkyl)N— wherein p is 1 or 2 include methylsulfinylmethylamino, methylsulfonylmethylamino, 2-(ethylsulfinyl)ethylamino and 2-(ethylsulfonyl)ethylamino; examples of fluoro(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— wherein p is 1 or 2 include trifluoromethylsulfinylamino and trifluoromethylsulfonylamino; examples of fluoro(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)((1-4C)alkyl)NH— wherein p is 1 or 2 include trifluoromethylsulfinylmethylamino and trifluoromethylsulfonylmethylamino examples of (1-4C)alkoxy(hydroxy)phosphoryl include methoxy(hydroxy)phosphoryl and ethoxy(hydroxy)phosphoryl; examples of di-(1-4C)alkoxyphosphoryl include di-methoxyphosphoryl, di-ethoxyphosphoryl and ethoxy(methoxy)phosphoryl; examples of (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— wherein q is 0, 1 or 2 include methylthio, ethylthio, methylsulfinyl, ethylsulfinyl, methylsulfonyl and ethylsulfonyl; examples of phenylS(O)_(q) and naphthylS(O)_(q)— wherein q is 0, 1 or 2 are phenylthio, phenylsulfinyl, phenylsulfonyl and naphthylthio, naphthylsulfinyl and naphthylsulfonyl respectively; examples of benzyloxy-(1-4C)alkyl include benzyloxymethyl and benzyloxyethyl; examples of a (3-4C)alkylene chain are trimethylene or tetramethylene; examples of (1-6C)alkoxy-(1-6C)alkyl include methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl and 2-methoxyethyl; examples of hydroxy-(2-6C)alkoxy include 2-hydroxyethoxy and 3-hydroxypropoxy; examples of (1-4C)alkylamino-(2-6C)alkoxy include 2-methylaminoethoxy and 2-ethylaminoethoxy; examples of di-(1-4C)alkylamino-(2-6C)alkoxy include 2-dimethylaminoethoxy and 2-diethylaminoethoxy; examples of phenyl(1-4C)alkyl include benzyl and phenethyl; examples of (1-4C)alkylcarbamoyl include methylcarbamoyl and ethylcarbamoyl; examples of di((1-4C)alkyl)carbamoyl include di(methyl)carbamoyl and di(ethyl)carbamoyl; examples of hydroxyimino(1-4C)alkyl include hydroxyiminomethyl, 2-(hydroxyimino)ethyl and 1-(hydroxyimino)ethyl; examples of (1-4C)alkoxyimino-(1-4C)alkyl include methoxyiminomethyl, ethoxyiminomethyl, 1-(methoxyimino)ethyl and 2-(methoxyimino)ethyl; examples of halo(1-4C)alkyl include, halomethyl, 1-haloethyl, 2-haloethyl, and 3-halopropyl; examples of nitro(1-4C)alkyl include nitromethyl, 1-nitroethyl, 2-nitroethyl and 3-nitropropyl; examples of amino(1-4C)alkyl include aminomethyl, 1-aminoethyl, 2-aminoethyl and 3-aminopropyl; examples of cyano(1-4C)alkyl include cyanomethyl, 1-cyanoethyl, 2-cyanoethyl and 3-cyanopropyl; examples of (1-4C)alkanesulfonamido include methanesulfonamido and ethanesulfonamido; examples of (1-4C)alkylaminosulfonyl include methylaminosulfonyl and ethylaminosulfonyl; examples of di-(1-4C)alkylaminosulfonyl include dimethylaminosulfonyl, diethylaminosulfonyl and N-methyl-N-ethylaminosulfonyl; examples of (1-4C)alkanesulfonyloxy include methylsulfonyloxy, ethylsulfonyloxy and propylsulfonyloxy; examples of (1-4C)alkanoyloxy include acetoxy; examples of (1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl include methylaminocarbonyl and ethylaminocarbonyl; examples of di((1-4C)alkyl)aminocarbonyl include dimethylaminocarbonyl and diethylaminocarbonyl; examples of (3-8C)cycloalkyl include cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; examples of (4-7C)cycloalkyl include cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl; examples of di(N-(1-4C)alkyl)aminomethylimino include dimethylaminomethylimino and diethylaminomethylimino.

Particular values for AR2 include, for example, for those AR2 containing one heteroatom, furan, pyrrole, thiophene; for those AR2 containing one to four N atoms, pyrazole, imidazole, pyridine, pyrimidine, pyrazine, pyridazine, 1,2,3- & 1,2,4-triazole and tetrazole; for those AR2 containing one N and one O atom, oxazole, isoxazole and oxazine; for those AR2 containing one N and one S atom, thiazole and isothiazole; for those AR2 containing two N atoms and one S atom, 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-thiadiazole.

Particular examples of AR2a include, for example, dihydropyrrole (especially 2,5-dihydropyrrol-4-yl) and tetrahydropyridine (especially 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrid-4-yl). Particular examples of AR2b include, for example, tetrahydrofuran, pyrrolidine, morpholine (preferably morpholino), thiomorpholine (preferably thiomorpholino), piperazine (preferably piperazino), imidazoline and piperidine, 1,3-dioxolan-4-yl, 1,3-dioxan-4-yl, 1,3-dioxan-5-yl and 1,4-dioxan-2-yl.

Particular values for AR3 include, for example, bicyclic benzo-fused systems containing a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring containing one nitrogen atom and optionally 1-3 further heteroatoms chosen from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. Specific examples of such ring systems include, for example, indole, benzofuran, benzothiophene, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, benzisothiazole, benzoxazole, benzisoxazole, quinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, phthalazine and cinnoline.

Other particular examples of AR3 include 5/5-, 5/6 and 6/6 bicyclic ring systems containing heteroatoms in both of the rings. Specific examples of such ring systems include, for example, purine and naphthyridine.

Further particular examples of AR3 include bicyclic heteroaryl ring systems with at least one bridgehead nitrogen and optionally a further 1-3 heteroatoms chosen from oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen. Specific examples of such ring systems include, for example, 3H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrrole, pyrrolo[2, 1-b]thiazole, 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]pyrrole, 1H-imidazo[1,2-a]imidazole, 1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazole, 1H-imidazo[1,5-a]pyrrole, pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoxazole, imidazo[5,1-b]thiazole, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, indolizine, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,5-a]pyridine, pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine, pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazine, pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine, pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, pyrido[2,1-c]-s-triazole, s-triazole[1,5-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, imidazo[1,5-a]pyrazine, imidazo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, imidazo[1,2-b]-pyridazine, s-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine, imidazo[5,1-b]oxazole and imidazo[2,1-b]oxazole. Other specific examples of such ring systems include, for example, [1H]-pyrrolo[2, 1-c]oxazine, [3H]-oxazolo[3,4-a]pyridine, [6H]-pyrrolo[2,1-c]oxazine and pyrido[2,1-c][1,4]oxazine. Other specific examples of 5/5-bicyclic ring systems are imidazooxazole or imidazothiazole, in particular imidazo[5,1-b]thiazole, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, imidazo[5,1-b]oxazole or imidazo[2,1-b]oxazole.

Particular examples of AR3a and AR3b include, for example, indoline, 1,3,4,6,9,9a-hexahydropyrido[2,1c][1,4]oxazin-8-yl, 1,2,3,5,8,8a-hexahydroimidazo[1,5a]pyridin-7-yl, 1,5,8,8a-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,4a]pyridin-7-yl, 1,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydrooxazolo[3,4a]pyridin-7-yl, (7aS)[3H,5H]-1,7a-dihydropyrrolo[1,2c]oxazol-6-yl, (7aS)[5H]-1,2,3,7a-tetrabydropyrrolo[1,2c]imidazol-6-yl, (7aR)[3H,5H]-1,7a-dihydropyrrolo[1,2c]oxazol-6-yl, [3H,5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-c]oxazol-6-yl, [5H]-2,3-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-6-yl, [3H,5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazol-6-yl, [3H,5H]-1,7a-dihydropyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazol-6-yl, [5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-c]imidazol-6-yl, [1H]-3,4,8,8a-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-c]oxazin-7-yl, [3H]-1,5,8,8a-tetrahydrooxazolo[3,4-a]pyrid-7-yl, [3H]-5,8-dihydroxazolo[3,4-a]pyrid-7-yl and 5,8-dihydroimidazo[1,5-a]pyrid-7-yl.

Particular values for AR4 include, for example, pyrrolo[a]quinoline, 2,3-pyrroloisoquinoline, pyrrolo[a]isoquinoline,1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]benzimidazole, 9H-imidazo[1,2-a]indole, 5H-imidazo[2,1-a]isoindole,1H-imidazo[3,4-a]indole, imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline, imidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline, imidazo[1,5-a]quinoline and imidazo[5,1-a]isoquinoline.

The nomenclature used is that found in, for example, “Heterocyclic Compounds (Systems with bridgehead nitrogen), W. L. Mosby (Intercsience Publishers Inc., New York), 1961, Parts 1 and 2.

Where optional substituents are listed such substitution is preferably not geminal disubstitution unless stated otherwise. If not stated elsewhere suitable optional substituents for a particular group are those as stated for similar groups herein.

Suitable substituents on AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a and CY are (on an available carbon atom) up to three substituents independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl {optionally substituted by (preferably one) substituents selected independently from hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkyl S(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2) (this last substituent preferably on AR1 only), (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, nitro, (1-4C)alkanoylamino, —CONRvRw or —NRvRw}, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, halo, nitro, cyano, thiol, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkanoyloxy, dimethylaminomethyleneaminocarbonyl, di(N-(1-4C)alkyl)aminomethylimino, carboxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkanoyl, (1-4C)alkylSO₂amino, (2-4C)alkenyl {optionally substituted by carboxy or (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl}, (2-4C)alkynyl, (1-4C)alkanoylamino, oxo (═O), thioxo (═S), (1-4C)alkanoylamino {the (1-4C)alkanoyl group being optionally substituted by hydroxy}, (1-4C)alkyl S(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2) {the (1-4C)alkyl group being optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from cyano, hydroxy and (1-4C)alkoxy}, —CONRvRw or —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl].

Further suitable substituents on AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a, and CY (on an available carbon atom), and also on alkyl groups (unless indicated otherwise) are up to three substituents independently selected from trifluoromethoxy, benzoylamino, benzoyl, phenyl {optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from halo, (1-4C)alkoxy or cyano}, furan, pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyridine, isoxazole, oxazole, isothiazole, thiazole, thiophene, hydroxyimino(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxyimino(1-4C)alkyl, halo-(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkanesulfonamido, —SO₂NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl].

Preferable optional substituents on Ar2b as 1,3-dioxolan-4-yl, 1,3-dioxan-4-yl, 1,3-dioxan-5-yl or 1,4-dioxan-2-yl are mono- or disubstitution by substituents independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl (including geminal disubstitution), (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkylthio, acetamido, (1-4C)alkanoyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl and phenyl].

Preferable optional substituents on CY are mono- or disubstitution by substituents independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl (including geminal disubstitution), hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkylthio, acetamido, (1-4C)alkanoyl, cyano, and trifluoromethyl.

Suitable substituents on AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4 and AR4a are (on an available nitrogen atom, where such substitution does not result in quaternization) (1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkanoyl {wherein the (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkanoyl groups are optionally substituted by (preferably one) substituents independently selected from cyano, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkyl S(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2), (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkanoylamino, —CONRvRw or —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl]}, (2-4C)alkenyl, (2-4C)alkynyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl or oxo (to form an N-oxide).

Suitable pharmaceutically-acceptable salts include acid addition salts such as methanesulfonate, fumarate, hydrochloride, citrate, maleate, tartrate and (less preferably) hydrobromide. Also suitable are salts formed with phosphoric and sulfuric acid. In another aspect suitable salts are base salts such as an alkali metal salt for example sodium, an alkaline earth metal salt for example calcium or magnesium, an organic amine salt for example triethylamine, morpholine, N-methylpiperidine, N-ethylpiperidine, procaine, dibenzylamine, N,N-dibenzylethylamine, tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)amine, N-methyl d-glucamine and amino acids such as lysine. There may be more than one cation or anion depending on the number of charged functions and the valency of the cations or anions. A preferred pharmaceutically-acceptable salt is the sodium salt.

In addition certain salts of the sulfoximine NH residue are envisaged, by way of non-limiting example sulphonic acid derivatives, methane sulfonate, hydrochloride and hydrobromide salts.

However, to facilitate isolation of the salt during preparation, salts which are less soluble in the chosen solvent may be preferred whether pharmaceutically-acceptable or not.

As stated before, we have discovered a range of compounds that have good activity against a broad range of Gram-positive pathogens including organisms known to be resistant to most commonly used antibiotics, together with activity against fastidious Gram negative pathogens such as H.influenzae, M.catarrhalis, Mycoplasma and Chlamydia strains. They have good physical and/or pharmacokinetic properties in general, and favourable toxicological profiles.

Particularly preferred compounds of the invention comprise a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein the substituents Q, HET, T and other substituents mentioned above have values disclosed hereinbefore, or any of the following values (which may be used where appropriate with any of the definitions and embodiments disclosed hereinbefore or hereinafter):

In one embodiment of the invention are provided compounds of formula (I), in an alternative embodiment are provided pharmaceutically-acceptable salts of compounds of formula (I), and in a further alternative embodiment are provided in-vivo hydrolysable esters of compounds of formula (I).

In one embodiment is provided a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, as defined herein wherein Q is selected from Q1 to Q9. In another embodiment is provided a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, as defined herein wherein Q is Q10.

Preferably Q is selected from Q1, Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q9; especially Q1, Q2 and Q9; more particularly Q1 and Q2; and most preferably Q is Q1.

In another embodiment of the invention are provided compounds of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, in which Q, T and other substituents mentioned above have the values disclosed hereinbefore, HET is selected from structures Za to Zf as hereinbefore defined (ie HET is as defined in definition (ii) for HET, as hereinbefore defined) and RT is selected from the group RTb.

In one embodiment RT has values (RTa) to (RTc1-3).

Preferable RT groups are those of (RTa) and (RTb). Even more preferable RT group is (RTb).

In (RTb), in one aspect, the (1-4C)alkyl group is preferably substituted, and more preferably is a substituted methyl group. In another aspect the (1-4C) alkyl group is prefeably unsubstituted, and more preferably is a methyl group.

In (RTb), when the (1-4C)alkyl group is substituted by a N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl ring it will be appreciated that the ring is aromatic and that when the ring is optionally substituted on an available carbon atom by oxo or thioxo then, when HET contains 1 to 3 further nitrogen heteroatoms, one of the further nitrogen heteroatoms is present as NH or as N-(1-4C)alkyl. Similarly, when the ring is optionally substituted on an available nitrogen atom by (1-4C)alkyl then the ring is substituted on an available carbon atom by oxo or thioxo. Preferred values for the N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl ring as a substituent in (RTb) are the following rings (HET-P1 to HET-P5):

In (RTc1) to (RTc3), particular rings are morpholino, tetrahydropyridyl and dihydropyrrolyl.

Preferable (RT) groups provided by optional F and/or Cl and/or one cyano further substituents in (RTa) and (RTb) are, for example, RT as trifluoromethyl, —CHF₂, —CH₂F, —CH₂CN, —CF₂NH(1-4C)alkyl, —CF₂CH₂OH, —CH₂OCF₃, —CH₂OCHF₂, —CH₂OCH₂F, —NHCF₂CH₃.

In one embodiment is provided a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, as defined herein wherein T is selected from (TA2) and (TB). In another embodiment is provided a compound of formula (I) as defined herein wherein T is (TA1).

In (TA1), when the ring has an optional double bond between any two ring carbon atoms, the ring is preferably linked via an sp² carbon atom of the double bond.

Preferably (TA1) is (TA1a) or (TA1b), and preferably (TA2) is (TA2a):

wherein X_(1m) and X_(2m) are as defined above, and hereinafter.

In (TB1) to (TB3), preferably n₁=o₁ & n_(1′)=o_(1′) (most preferably all are 1); p₁=p_(1′) (most preferably both are 0); and further preferred values for the groups defined in (TB) are defined by formulae (TB1a, b), (TB2a) and (TB3a):

wherein X_(1m) and X_(2m) are as defined above, and hereinafter.

Preferably X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa.

When ms is 0, R_(2s) is preferably selected from:

-   -   (i) hydrogen, a (1-6C)alkyl group {optionally monosubstituted by         (1-4C)alkanoyl group, cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally         substituted as for AR1 defined herein), optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or         optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups (including         geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or         more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution), and/or         optionally further substituted, by no more than one of each of,         oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is         hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p         is 1 or 2)}; or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) herein; or     -   (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′         [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1         defined herein), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a,         AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted as         defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl.

When ms is 0, R_(2s) is most preferably selected from

-   -   (i) hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by         (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1         or 2); or optionally substituted by one or more fluoro-groups         (including geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by         one or more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution)};         or     -   (iii) —CO—NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is         hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], —CO—NRv Rw′ [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1         defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl.

When ms is 1, E is preferably —CO— or —SO₂— and R_(2s) is preferably selected from:

-   -   (i) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by cyano,         cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1         defined herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the         formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as         defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso         that where R₂, is —SO₂— or —O—CO— not on the first carbon atom         of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by one or more         groups (including geminal disubstitution) each independently         selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or optionally         monosubstituted by —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group of the         formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY         all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein.

When ms is 1, E is preferably —CO— or —SO₂— and R_(2s) is most preferably selected from:

-   -   (i) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or         optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups (including         geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or         more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution)},         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino.

In (TB) and (TA2), where ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n₁′, ( )o₁′, ( )p₁ and ( )p₁′ represent chains of carbon atoms optionally substituted as defined for AR1 herein, preferable optional substituents are selected from (preferably one of) hydroxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkyl S(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2), (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, nitro, (1-4C)alkanoylamino, —CONRvRw or —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl]. Most preferably, ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n₁′, ( )o₁′, ( )p₁ and ( )p₁′ represent unsubstituted chains of carbon atoms.

The above preferred values of (TAa) to (TAc) and (TB) are particularly preferred when present in Q1 or Q2, especially Q1.

Preferably T is selected from (TA1a & b), (TA2a) and (TB1a & b). Especially preferred is each of these values of T when present in Q1 and Q2, particularly in Q1.

Preferable values for other substituents (which may be used where appropriate with any of the definitions and embodiments disclosed hereinbefore or hereinafter) are:

-   -   (a) In one embodiment HET is a 6-membered heteroaryl as defined         herein, and in another embodiment HET is a 5-membered heteroaryl         as defined hereinbefore in definition (i) for HET.     -   (b) When HET is a 5-membered heteroaryl as defined hereinbefore         in definition (i) for HET, preferably HET is 1,2,3-triazole         (especially 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl), 1,2,4-triazole (especially         1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) and tetrazole (preferably tetrazol-2-yl).     -   (c) When HET is a 6-membered heteroaryl as defined herein,         preferably HET is a di-hydro version of pyrimidine, pyridazine,         pyrazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,3,5-triazine and         pyridine.     -   (d) Preferably HET is unsubstituted.     -   (e) In another embodiment, HET is preferably of formula (Zc),         (Zd) or (Zf).     -   (f) In one aspect preferably one of R² and R³ is hydrogen and         the other fluoro. In another aspect both R² and R³ are fluoro.     -   (g) Preferably Rc is R¹³CO— and preferably R¹³ is         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkyl         (optionally substituted by one or two hydroxy groups, or by an         (1-4C)alkanoyl group), (1-4C)alkylamino,         dimethylamino(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxymethyl,         (1-4C)alkanoylmethyl, (1-4C)alkanoyloxy(1-4C)alkyl, (1-5C)alkoxy         or 2-cyanoethyl.     -   (h) More preferably R¹³ is 1,2-dihydroxyethyl,         1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl, 1,2,3-trihydroxyprop-1-yl,         methoxycarbonyl, hydroxymethyl, methyl, methylamino,         dimethylaminomethyl, methoxymethyl, acetoxymethyl, methoxy,         methylthio, naphthyl, tert-butoxy or 2-cyanoethyl.     -   (i) Particularly preferred as R¹³ is 1,2-dihydroxyethyl,         1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl or 1,2,3-trihydroxyprop-1-yl.     -   (j) In another aspect preferably R¹³ is hydrogen, (1-10C)alkyl         [optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy] or         R¹⁴C(O)O(1-6C)alkyl.

For compounds of formula (I) preferred values for Rc are those in group (Rc2) when present in any of the definitions herein containing Rc.

In the definition of (Rc2c) the AR2a, AR2b, AR3a and AR3b versions of AR2 and AR3 containing groups are preferably excluded.

Especially preferred compounds of the present invention are of the formula (IA):

wherein HET is 1,2,3-triazole (especially 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl), 1,2,4-triazole (especially 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) and tetrazole (preferably tetrazol-2-yl) or HET is a di-hydro version of pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,3,5-triazine and pyridine; R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; and

-   -   T is selected from (TA1), (TA2) and (TB1) to (TB3); or in-vivo         hydrolysable esters or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts         thereof.

Further especially preferred compounds of the present invention are of the formula (1A) defined above, wherein HET is selected from structures Za to Zf (as hereinbefore defined) and is 1,2,3-triazole (especially 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl), 1,2,4-triazole (especially 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) and tetrazole (preferably tetrazol-2-yl); RT is selected from (RTa) or (RTb); R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; and T is selected from (TA1), (TA2) and (TB1) to (TB3); or in-vivo hydrolysable esters or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof.

Further particularly preferred compounds of the present invention are of the formula (1A) defined above wherein RT is a methyl group from (RTb), substituted with any of those substituents defined herein in (RTb) other than an N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl ring; or in-vivo hydrolysable esters or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof.

Further especially preferred compounds of the invention are of the formula (IA) wherein HET is 1,2,3-triazole (especially 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl), 1,2,4-triazole (especially 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) or tetrazole (preferably tetrazol-2-yl;

-   -   R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro;     -   T is selected from (TA1a & b), (TA2a) and (TB1a & b); or in-vivo         hydrolysable esters or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts         thereof.

In the above aspects and preferred compounds of formula (IA), in (TA1), (TA2) and (TB1) to (TB3); and especially in (TA1a & b), (TA2a) and (TB1a & b); preferably X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa; and when ms is 0, R_(2s) is preferably selected from (i) hydrogen, a (1-6C)alkyl group {optionally monosubstituted by (1-4C)alkanoyl group, cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1 defined herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups (including geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution), and/or optionally further substituted, by no more than one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or

-   -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted         heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a,         AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted         as defined) herein;     -   or (where ms is 0 only),     -   (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′         [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1         defined herein), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a,         AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted as         defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl;     -   and when ms is 1, E is preferably —CO— or —SO₂— and R_(2s) is         preferably selected from:     -   (i) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by cyano,         cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1         defined herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the         formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as         defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso         that where R_(2s) is —SO₂— or —O—CO— not on the first carbon         atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by one or         more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each         independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or         optionally monosubstituted by —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or         (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group of the         formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY         all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein.

In a further aspect of the present invention is provided a compound of the formula (IB), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or an in-vivo-hydrolysable ester thereof,

wherein:

-   -   X1 and X2 taken together represent R2_(F)—(E)m-N═, wherein E is         an electron withdrawing group selected from SO2-, CO—, O—CO—,         CO—O—, CS—, CON(R_(F))—, SO2N(R_(F))—, or E may represent a         group of the formula R3_(F)—C(═N—O—R3_(F))—C(═O)—, wherein         R3_(F) is H or as defined in R2_(F) (i) below; or     -   X1 is O═ and X2 is R2_(F)—(E)m-N—, and vice versa; and R2_(F)         and R_(F) may be linked as a 5- or 6-membered unsaturated or         partially unsaturated ring;     -   m 0 or 1;     -   R2_(F) and R_(F) are independently selected from: (i) hydrogen         (except where E is SO2 or O—CO—), a (1-6C)alkyl group         {optionally substituted by one or more (1-4C)alkanoyl groups         (including geminal disubstitution) and/or optionally         monosubstituted by cyano, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR         defined herein after, heteroaryl(optionally substituted and         defined as below),(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or         (with the proviso that where R2 is SO2 or O—CO— not on the first         carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by         one or more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each         independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or         optionally monosubstituted by oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is         hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl],         (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino,         N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)};     -   or     -   (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group of the         formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a, or CY         all as hereinbefore defined, or where m=0 only,     -   (iii) cyano (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, ethenyl,         2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl,         2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl,         2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl,         2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl,         or 2-(AR2a)ethenyl;     -   W is a bond joining the adjacent carbon atoms or represents one         or two carbon atoms (each —CH2- or —CH—), the heterocyclic ring         comprising W therefore has 5-7 ring atoms and may optionally         have one or more of (i) one double bond between ring carbon         atoms, (ii) a C1-C3 bridge connecting two ring carbon atoms and         optionally containing a heteroatom selected from oxygen or         nitrogen, and (iii) a C2-C5 cyclic moiety around a ring carbon         atom;     -   (HET)AR is a 5-6 membered aromatic or heteroaromatic ring, (i)         when a 5-membered ring this may be a thiophene ring, comprising         a single sulphur atom sited ortho to the nitrogen atom on the         adjacent oxazolidinone ring, such a ring may have a single         optional substituent R1_(F) as hereinafter defined sited ortho         to the carbon atom on the adjacent sulfilimine/sulfoximine         ring, (ii) when a 6-membered ring this may be a phenyl ring or         comprise a single nitrogen atom sited ortho to the nitrogen atom         on the adjacent oxazolidinone ring, such ring may be optionally         substituted at one or both positions ortho to the carbon atom on         the adjacent sulfilimine/sulfoximine ring by R1_(F), where each     -   R1_(F) is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, methyl,         methoxy, ethyl and ethoxy;     -   Y and Z taken together represent (a) an N-linked 5-membered         heteroaryl ring, containing either (i) 1 to 3 further nitrogen         heteroatoms or (ii) a further heteroatom selected from O and S         together with an optional further nitrogen heteroatom; which         ring is optionally substituted on a C atom by an oxo or thioxo         group; and/or the ring is optionally substituted on a C atom by         1 or 2 (1-4C)alkyl groups; and/or on an available nitrogen atom         (provided that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by         (1-4C)alkyl; or     -   (b) an N-linked 6-membered heteroaryl ring containing up to         three nitrogen heteroatoms in total (including the linking         heteroatom), which ring is substituted on a suitable C atom by         oxo or thioxo and optionally substituted on any available C atom         by 1 or 2 (1-4C)alkyl substituents;     -   For compounds of the formula (IB) the term “a C5-C6         heteroaromatic ring” means a 5- or 6-membered aryl ring wherein         (unless stated otherwise) 1, 2 or 3 of the ring atoms are         selected from nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. Unless stated         otherwise, such rings are fully aromatic. Particular examples of         5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring systems are furan, pyrrole,         pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyridine,         isoxazole, oxazole, isothiazole, thiazole and thiophene.

For compounds of the formula (IB), particular optional substituents for alkyl, phenyl (and phenyl containing moieties) and naphthyl groups and ring carbon atoms in heteroaryl (mono or bicyclic) rings (such as set out hereinbefore in groups AR1 to AR4a and CY inclusive) include halo, (1-4C)alkyl , hydroxy, nitro, carbamoyl, (1-4C)alkylcarbamoyl, di-((1-4C)alkyl)carbamoyl, cyano, trifluoromethyl, trifluoromethoxy, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino, di((1-4C)alkyl)amino, (1-4C)alkyl S(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2), carboxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (2-4C)alkenyl, (2-4C)alkynyl, (1-4C)alkanoyl, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkylS(O)₂amino, (1-4C)alkanoylamino, benzoylamino, benzoyl, phenyl (optionally substituted by up to three substituents selected from halo, (1-4C)alkoxy or cyano), furan, pyrrole, pyrazole, imidazole, triazole, pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyridine, isoxazole, oxazole, isothiazole, thiazole, thiophene, hydroxyimino(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxyimino(1-4C)alkyl, hydroxy-(1-4C)alkyl, halo-(1-4C)alkyl, nitro(1-4C)alkyl, amino(1-4C)alkyl, cyano(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkanesulfonamido, aminosulfonyl, (1-4C)alkylaminosulfonyl and di-((1-4C)alkyl)aminosulfonyl. The phenyl and naphthyl groups and heteroaryl (mono- or bicyclic) rings may be mono- or di-substituted on ring carbon atoms with substituents independently selected from the above list of particular optional substituents, or on ring nitrogen atoms provided the ring is not thereby quatermised.

For compounds of the formula (IB), particular examples of 5-membered heteroaryl rings containing 2 or 3 heteroatoms independently selected from N, O and S (with the proviso that there are no O—O, O—S or S—S bonds) are pyrazole, imidazole, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole, oxazole, isoxazole, thiazole, 1,2,3-oxadiazole, 1,2,4-oxadiazole, 1,2,5-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-oxadiazole; and also in an alternative embodiment, isothiazole, 1,2,5-thiadiazole, 1,2,4-thiadiazole or 1,2,3-thiadiazole.

AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a and CY are understood to be as hereinbefore defined for formula I.

Particular values for X1 and X2 are as follows:

-   -   (i) X1 is O═ and X2 is R2-(E)m-N—, wherein m=0 and vice versa,     -   (ii) X1 is O═ and X2 is R2-(E)m-N—, wherein m is 1 and vice         versa     -   (iii) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —SO2— and m is 0     -   (iv) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —SO2— and m is 1     -   (v) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —CO— and m is 0     -   (vi) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —CO— and m is 1     -   (vii) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —O—CO— and m is 0     -   (viii) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —O—CO— and m is 1     -   (ix) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —CO—O— and m is 0     -   (x) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —COO— and m is 1     -   (xi) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —CS— and m is 0     -   (xii) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —CS— and m is 1     -   (xiii) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —CON(R)— and m is 0     -   (xiv) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —CON(R)— and m is 1     -   (xv) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E is         —SO2N(R)— and m is 0     -   (xvi) X1 and X2 taken together represent R2-(E)m-N═, wherein E         is —SO2N(R)— and m is 1     -   R1 is hydrogen or halogen;     -   R2 and R are independently hydrogen (except where E is SO2 or         O—CO—), a (1-6C)alkyl group {optionally substituted by one or         more (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution)         and/or optionally monosubstituted by cyano, (1-4C)alkoxy,         trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally         substituted as for AR defined hereinafter, heteroaryl(optionally         substituted and defined as below),(1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0,         1 or 2); or, optionally substituted by one or more groups         (including geminal disubstitution) each independently selected         from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or optionally monosubstituted by         oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is         hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino,         (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p         is 1 or 2)};     -   m is 1;     -   Y and Z together are an N-linked triazole or tetrazole ring.

More particular values are as follows:

-   -   E is absent or is SO2-;     -   R1 is halogen;     -   R2 and R are independently hydrogen (except where E is SO2 or         O—CO—), an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group         [especially cyclopropyl, or cyclobutyl, ethyl or methyl], all         being optionally substituted by one or more of hydroxy, O-alkyl,         alkanoyl (including geminal disubstitution), CN, SO2CH3,         fluorine, chlorine, trifluoromethyl, COOH, COO-alkyl, CONH2,         CONH-alkyl, or CON-dialkyl; and wherein any group has up to 6,         such as up to 4 carbon atoms, the O-alkyl and alkanoyl groups         may be further substituted by any convenient substituent such as         for example trifluoromethyl;     -   Y and Z together are 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl.

In all of the above aspects and preferred compounds of formula (IA) and (IB), in-vivo hydrolysable esters are preferred where appropriate, especially phosphoryl esters (as defined by formula (PD3) with npd as 1, or of formula (PS1)).

In all of the above definitions the preferred compounds are as shown in formula (IC) as described hereinafter; i.e. the pharmaceutically active enantiomer.

Particularly preferred compounds of the present invention include the compounds described in the following examples. Therefore the present invention also provides a compound described in any one of the following examples, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof (and in particular compounds and salts thereof); and their use as a medicament (as herein described).

The compounds of the formula (I) may be administered in the form of a pro-drug which is broken down in the human or animal body to give a compound of the formula (I). A prodrug may be used to alter or improve the physical and/or pharmacokinetic profile of the parent compound and can be formed when the parent compound contains a suitable group or substituent which can be derivatised to form a prodrug. Examples of pro-drugs include in-vivo hydrolysable esters of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof.

Various forms of prodrugs are known in the art, for examples see:

-   -   a) Design of Prodrugs, edited by H. Bundgaard, (Elsevier, 1985)         and Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 42, p.309-396, edited by K.         Widder, et al. (Academic Press, 1985);     -   b) A Textbook of Drug Design and Development, edited by         Krogsgaard-Larsen and H. Bundgaard, Chapter 5 “Design and         Application of Prodrugs”, by H. Bundgaard p. 113-191 (1991);     -   c) H. Bundgaard, Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 8, 1-38 (1992);     -   d) H. Bundgaard, et al., Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 77,         285 (1988); and     -   e) N. Kakeya, et al., Chem Pharm Bull, 32, 692 (1984).

An in-vivo hydrolysable ester of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof containing carboxy or hydroxy group is, for example, a pharmaceutically-acceptable ester which is hydrolysed in the human or animal body to produce the parent acid or alcohol. Suitable pharmaceutically-acceptable esters for carboxy include (1-6C)alkoxymethyl esters for example methoxymethyl, (1-6C)alkanoyloxymethyl esters for example pivaloyloxymethyl, phthalidyl esters, (3-8C)cycloalkoxycarbonyloxy(1-6C)alkyl esters for example 1-cyclohexylcarbonyloxyethyl; 1,3-dioxolan-2-onylmethyl esters for example 5-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl; and (1-6C)alkoxycarbonyloxyethyl esters for example 1-methoxycarbonyloxyethyl and may be formed at any carboxy group in the compounds of this invention.

An in-vivo hydrolysable ester of a compound of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof containing a hydroxy group or groups includes inorganic esters such as phosphate esters (including phosphoramidic cyclic esters) and α-acyloxyalkyl ethers and related compounds which as a result of the in-vivo hydrolysis of the ester breakdown to give the parent hydroxy group/s. In addition the sulphoximine residue may be derivatised by a convenient biologically labile group to give a derivative suitable for use as a solubilising pro-drug. Examples of α-acyloxyalkyl ethers include acetoxymethoxy and 2,2-dimethylpropionyloxymethoxy. A selection of in-vivo hydrolysable ester forming groups for hydroxy include (1-10C)alkanoyl, benzoyl, phenylacetyl and substituted benzoyl and phenylacetyl, (1-10C)alkoxycarbonyl (to give alkyl carbonate esters), di-(1-4C)alkylcarbamoyl and N-(di-(1-4C)alkylaminoethyl)-N-(1-4C)alkylcarbamoyl (to give carbamates), di-(1-4C)alkylaminoacetyl and carboxyacetyl. Examples of substituents on benzoyl and phenylacetyl include chloromethyl or aminomethyl, (1-4C)alkylaminomethyl and di-((1-4C)alkyl)aminomethyl, and morpholino or piperazino linked from a ring nitrogen atom via a methylene linking group to the 3- or 4-position of the benzoyl ring.

In addition a sulphoximine residue may be derivatised by a convenient biologically labile group to give a derivative suitable for use as a solubilising pro-drug.

Certain suitable in-vivo hydrolysable esters of a compound of the formula (I) are described within the definitions listed in this specification, for example esters described by the definition (Rc2d), and some groups within (Rc2c). Suitable in-vivo hydrolysable esters of a compound of the formula (I) are described as follows. For example, a 1,2-diol may be cyclised to form a cyclic ester of formula (PD1) or a pyrophosphate of formula (PD2):

Particularly interesting are such cyclised pro-drugs when the 1,2-diol is on a (1-4C)alkyl chain linked to a carbonyl group in a substituent of formula Rc borne by a nitrogen atom in structures (TA1) or (TA2). Esters of compounds of formula (I) wherein the HO— function/s in (PD1) and(PD2) are protected by (1-4C)alkyl, phenyl or benzyl are useful intermediates for the preparation of such pro-drugs.

Further in-vivo hydrolysable esters include phosphoramidic esters, and also compounds of formula (I) in which any free hydroxy group, or sulfoxime group, independently forms a phosphoryl (npd is 1) or phosphiryl (npd is 0) ester of the formula (PD3) or (PS1), wherein npd is independently 0 or 1 for each oxo group:

For the avoidance of doubt, phosphono is —P(O)(OH)₂; (1-4C)alkoxy(hydroxy)-phosphoryl is a mono-(1-4C)alkoxy derivative of —O—P(O)(OH)₂; and di-(1-4C)alkoxyphosphoryl is a di-(1-4C)alkoxy derivative of —O—P(O)(OH)₂.

Useful intermediates for the preparation of such esters include compounds containing a group/s of formula (PD3) in which either or both of the —OH groups in (PD3) is independently protected by (1-4C)alkyl (such compounds also being interesting compounds in their own right), phenyl or phenyl-(1-4C)alkyl (such phenyl groups being optionally substituted by 1 or 2 groups independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl, nitro, halo and (1-4C)alkoxy).

Thus, prodrugs containing groups such as (PD1), (PD2) and (PD3) may be prepared by reaction of a compound of formula (I) containing suitable hydroxy group/s with a suitably protected phosphorylating agent (for example, containing a chloro or dialkylamino leaving group), followed by oxidation (if necessary) and deprotection. Prodrugs containing a group such as (PS1) may be obtained by analagous chemistry.

When a compound of formula (I) contains a number of free hydroxy group, those groups not being converted into a prodrug functionality may be protected (for example, using a t-butyl-dimethylsilyl group), and later deprotected. Also, enzymatic methods may be used to selectively phosphorylate or dephosphorylate alcohol functionalities.

Other interesting in-vivo hydrolysable esters include, for example, those in which Rc is defined by, for example, R¹⁴C(O)O(1-6C)alkyl-CO— (wherein R¹⁴ is for example, benzyloxy-(1-4C)alkyl, or phenyl). Suitable substituents on a phenyl group in such esters include, for example, 4-(1-4C)piperazino-(1-4C)alkyl, piperazino-(1-4C)alkyl and morpholino-(1-4C)alkyl.

Where pharmaceutically-acceptable salts of an in-vivo hydrolysable ester may be formed this is achieved by conventional techniques. Thus, for example, compounds containing a group of formula (PD1), (PD2) and/or (PD3) may ionise (partially or fully) to form salts with an appropriate number of counter-ions. Thus, by way of example, if an in-vivo hydrolysable ester prodrug of a compound of formula (I) contains two (PD3) groups, there are four HO—P— functionalities present in the overall molecule, each of which may form an appropriate salt (i.e. the overall molecule may form, for example, a mono-, di-, tri- or tetra-sodium salt).

The compounds of the present invention have a chiral centre at the C-5 position of the oxazolidinone ring. The pharmaceutically active enantiomer is of the formula (IC):

The present invention includes the pure enantiomer depicted above or mixtures of the 5R and 5S enantiomers, for example a racemic mixture. If a mixture of enantiomers is used, a larger amount (depending upon the ratio of the enantiomers) will be required to achieve the same effect as the same weight of the pharmaceutically active enantiomer. For example, the enantiomer depicted above is the 5(R) isomer when HET is 1,2,3- or 1,2,4-triazole or tetrazole.

Furthermore, some compounds of the formula (I) may have other chiral centres, for example, certain sulfoxime compounds may be chiral at the sulfur atom. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses all such optical and diastereo-isomers, and racemic mixtures, that possess antibacterial activity. It is well known in the art how to prepare optically-active forms (for example by resolution of the racemic form by recrystallisation techniques, by chiral synthesis, by enzymatic resolution, by biotransformation or by chromatographic separation) and how to determine antibacterial activity as described hereinafter.

Furthermore, some compounds of the formula (I), for example certain sulfoxime compounds may exist as cis- and trans-isomers. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses all such isomers, and mixtures thereof, that possess antibacterial activity.

The invention relates to all tautomeric forms of the compounds of the formula (I) that possess antibacterial activity.

It is also to be understood that certain compounds of the formula (I) can exist in solvated as well as unsolvated forms such as, for example, hydrated forms. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses all such solvated forms which possess antibacterial activity.

It is also to be understood that certain compounds of the formula (I) may exhibit polymorphism, and that the invention encompasses all such forms which possess antibacterial activity.

Process Section:

In a further aspect the present invention provides a process for preparing a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof. It will be appreciated that during certain of the following processes certain substituents may require protection to prevent their undesired reaction. The skilled chemist will appreciate when such protection is required, and how such protecting groups may be put in place, and later removed.

For examples of protecting groups see one of the many general texts on the subject, for example, ‘Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis’ by Theodora Green (publisher: John Wiley & Sons).

Protecting groups may be removed by any convenient method as described in the literature or known to the skilled chemist as appropriate for the removal of the protecting group in question, such methods being chosen so as to effect removal of the protecting group with minimum disturbance of groups elsewhere in the molecule.

Thus, if reactants include, for example, groups such as amino, carboxy or hydroxy it may be desirable to protect the group in some of the reactions mentioned herein.

A suitable protecting group for an amino or alkylamino group is, for example, an acyl group, for example an alkanoyl group such as acetyl, an alkoxycarbonyl group, for example a methoxycarbonyl, ethoxycarbonyl or t-butoxycarbonyl group, an arylmethoxycarbonyl group, for example benzyloxycarbonyl, or an aroyl group, for example benzoyl. The deprotection conditions for the above protecting groups necessarily vary with the choice of protecting group. Thus, for example, an acyl group such as an alkanoyl or alkoxycarbonyl group or an aroyl group may be removed for example, by hydrolysis with a suitable base such as an alkali metal hydroxide, for example lithium or sodium hydroxide. Alternatively an acyl group such as a t-butoxycarbonyl group may be removed, for example, by treatment with a suitable acid as hydrochloric, sulphuric or phosphoric acid or trifluoroacetic acid and an arylmethoxycarbonyl group such as a benzyloxycarbonyl group may be removed, for example, by hydrogenation over a catalyst such as palladium-on-carbon, or by treatment with a Lewis acid for example boron tris(trifluoroacetate). A suitable alternative protecting group for a primary amino group is, for example, a phthaloyl group which may be removed by treatment with an alkylamine, for example dimethylaminopropylamine, or with hydrazine.

A suitable protecting group for a hydroxy group is, for example, an acyl group, for example an alkanoyl group such as acetyl, an aroyl group, for example benzoyl, or an arylmethyl group, for example benzyl. The deprotection conditions for the above protecting groups will necessarily vary with the choice of protecting group. Thus, for example, an acyl group such as an alkanoyl or an aroyl group may be removed, for example, by hydrolysis with a suitable base such as an alkali metal hydroxide, for example lithium or sodium hydroxide. Alternatively an arylmethyl group such as a benzyl group may be removed, for example, by hydrogenation over a catalyst such as palladium-on-carbon.

A suitable protecting group for a carboxy group is, for example, an esterifying group, for example a methyl or an ethyl group which may be removed, for example, by hydrolysis with a base such as sodium hydroxide, or for example a t-butyl group which may be removed, for example, by treatment with an acid, for example an organic acid such as trifluoroacetic acid, or for example a benzyl group which may be removed, for example, by hydrogenation over a catalyst such as palladium-on-carbon.

Resins may also be used as a protecting group.

The protecting groups may be removed at any convenient stage in the synthesis using conventional techniques well known in the chemical art.

A compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, may be prepared by any process known to be applicable to the preparation of chemically-related compounds. Such processes, when used to prepare a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, are provided as a further feature of the invention and are illustrated by the following representative examples. Necessary starting materials may be obtained by standard procedures of organic chemistry (see, for example, Advanced Organic Chemistry (Wiley-Interscience), Jerry March). The preparation of such starting materials is described within the accompanying non-limiting Examples (in which, for example, 3,5-difluorophenyl, 3-fluorophenyl and (des-fluoro)phenyl containing intermediates may all be prepared by analogous procedures.

Alternatively, necessary starting materials are obtainable by analogous procedures to those illustrated which are within the ordinary skill of an organic chemist. Information on the preparation of necessary starting materials or related compounds (which may be adapted to form necessary starting materials) may also be found in the following Patent and Application Publications, the contents of the relevant process sections of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

-   -   WO99/02525; WO98/54161; WO97/37980; WO97/30981 (& U.S. Pat. No.         5,736,545); WO97/21708 (& U.S. Pat. No. 5,719,154); WO97/10223;         WO97/09328; WO96/35691; WO96/23788; WO96/15130; WO96/13502;         WO95/25106 (& U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,286); WO95/14684 (& U.S. Pat.         No. 5,652,238); WO95/07271 (& U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,792);         WO94/13649; WO94/01 110; WO93/23384 (& U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,547,950         & 5,700,799); WO93/09103 (& U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,565,571, 5,654,428,         5,654,435, 5,756,732 & 5,801,246); 5,231,188; 5,247,090;         5,523,403; WO97/27188; WO97/30995; WO97/31917; WO98/01447;         WO98/01446; WO99/10342; WO99/10343; WO99/11642; WO99/64416;         WO99/64417 and GB99/03299;     -   European Patent Application Nos. 0,359,418 and 0,609,905;         0,693,491 A1 (& U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,574); 0,694,543 A1 (& AU         24985/95); 0,694,544 A1 (& CA 2,154,024); 0,697,412 A1 (& U.S.         Pat. No. 5,529,998); 0,738,726 A1 (& AU 50735/96); 0,785,201 A1         (& AU 10123/97); German Patent Application Nos. DE 195 14 313 A1         (& U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,998); DE 196 01 264 A1 (& AU 10098/97);         DE 196 01 265 A1 (& AU 10097/97); DE 196 04 223 A1 (& AU         12516/97); DE 196 49 095 A1 (& AU 12517/97).

The following Patent and Application Publications may also provide useful information and the contents of the relevant process sections are hereby incorporated herein by reference:

-   -   FR 2458547; FR 2500450(& GB 2094299, GB 2141716 & U.S. Pat. No.         4,476,136); DE 2923295 (& GB 2028306, GB 2054575, U.S. Pat. Nos.         4,287,351, 4,348,393, 4,413,001, 4,435,415 & 4,526,786), DE         3017499 (& GB 2053196, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,346,102 & 4,372,967);         4,705,799; European Patent Application Nos. 0,312,000;         0,127,902; 0,184,170; 0,352,781; 0,316,594.

Information on the preparation of necessary starting materials or related compounds (which may be adapted to form necessary starting materials) may also be found in WO 01/46185.

The skilled organic chemist will be able to use and adapt the information contained and referenced within the above references to obtain necessary starting materials.

In particular we refer to our PCT patent applications WO-99/64417 and WO-00/21960 wherein detailed guidance is given on convenient methods for preparing oxazolidinone compounds.

The present invention also provides that compounds of the formulae (I) and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and in vivo hydrolysable esters thereof, can be prepared by a process (a) to (h) as follows (wherein a variable sulfoximine/sulfimine substituent is designated by R and the other variables are as defined above unless otherwise stated)

-   -   (a) (i) by modifying a substituent in, or introducing a new         substituent into, the substituent group RT of HET of another         compound of formula (I)—for instance by (i) displacement of a         functional group from a compound of formula (I) by another         functional group, (ii) by oxidation or (iii) reduction of a         compound of formula (I), by (iv) addition of a reagent to or (v)         elimination of a reagent from a compound of formula (I), by (vi)         metathesis of a compound of formula (I) into a modified compound         of formula (I), or by (vii) rearrangement of a compound of         formula (I) to an isomeric compound of formula (I); or     -   (a) (ii) by modifying a substituent in, or introducing a new         substituent into, the group Q of another compound of formula         (I)—for instance by (i) displacement of a functional group from         a compound of formula (I) by another functional group, (ii) by         oxidation or (iii) reduction of a compound of formula (I),         by (iv) addition of a reagent to or (v) elimination of a reagent         from a compound of formula (I), by (vi) metathesis of a compound         of formula (I) into a modified compound of formula (I), or         by (vii) rearrangement of a compound of formula (I) to an         isomeric compound of formula (I) (Scheme 1 shows examples drawn         from the range of suitable methods); or     -   (b) by reaction of a compound of formula (II):         wherein LG is a displaceable group (which may be (i) generated         in-situ, for example under Mitsunobu conditions, or (ii)         preformed, such as chloro or mesylate) with a compound of the         formula (III):         HET  (III)         wherein HET is HET-H free-base form or HET-anion formed from the         free base form (Scheme 2 shows examples drawn from the range of         suitable methods); or     -   (c) by reaction of a compound of the formula (IV):         T—Q—LG1  (IV)         wherein LG1 is an isocyanate, amine or urethane group with an         epoxide of the formula (V) wherein Z is an isocyanate, amine or         urethane group with an epoxide of the formula (V) wherein the         epoxide group serves as a leaving group at the terminal C-atom         and as a protected hydroxy group at the internal C-atom; or with         a related compound of formula (VA) where the hydroxy group at         the internal C-atom is conventionally protected e.g. with an         acetyl group and where the leaving group Y at the terminal         C-atom is a conventional leaving group e.g. a chloro- or         mesyloxy-group (Scheme 3 shows examples drawn from a range of         suitable methods); or     -   (d) by oxidation     -   (i) with an aminating agent of a lower valent sulfur compound         (VI), or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T         substituent as defined by (TA2), or a bi-, or tri-cyclic ring         analogue of (VI) which is suitable to give a T substituent as         defined by (TB); or     -   (ii) with an oxygenating agent of a lower valent sulfur compound         (VII), or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T         substituent as defined by (TA2), or a bi-, or tri-cyclic ring         analogue of (VII) which is suitable to give a T substituent as         defined by (TB);         where n=0 or 1 and ( )x and ( )x′ are chains of length x and x′.         Suitable aminating agents include mesitylenesulfonyl         hydroxylamine, sodium azide and polyphosphoric acid, and         chloramine-T; suitable oxygenating agents include peracids and         osmium tetroxide—amine N-oxide mixtures (Scheme 4 shows examples         drawn from a range of suitable methods); or     -   (e) (i) by coupling, using catalysis by transition metals such         as palladium(0), of a compound of formula (VIII):         wherein LG2 is a group HET as hereinbefore defined, LG3 is a         replaceable substituent—such as chloride, bromide, iodide, or         trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, with a compound of the formula (IX),         or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T         substituent as defined by (TA1), in which the link is via an sp²         carbon atom, or (TA2), or a bi- or tri-cyclic ring analogue         of (IX) which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by         (TB);         where n=0 or 1 and ( )x and ( )x′ are chains of length x and x′;         D is NH or CH═C—LG4 where LG4 is a replaceable substituent such         as chloride, bromide, iodide, or trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, or         (for instance under conditions of the Heck reaction) also         hydrogen (Scheme 5 shows examples drawn from the range of         suitable methods);     -   (e) (ii) by coupling, using catalysis by transition metals such         as palladium(0), of a compound of formula (X):         wherein LG2 is a group HET as hereinbefore defined, with a         compound [Aryl]-LG4, where LG4 is a replaceable substituent such         as chloride, bromide, iodide, or trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, or         an analogue thereof (Scheme 5 shows an example drawn from the         range of suitable methods); or     -   (f) Where HET is 1,2,3-triazole there is the additional         possibility by cycloaddition via the azide (wherein LG in (II)         is azide), with a substituted acetylene or a masked acetylene         (such as a vinyl sulfone, a nitroloefin, or an enamine, or a         substituted cyclohexa-1,4-diene derivative (Scheme 2 shows         examples drawn from the range of suitable methods)     -   (g) Where HET is 4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole there is the         additional possibility of synthesis by reaction of a compound of         formula (II) where LG═NH₂ (primary amine) with a compound of         formula (XI), namely the arenesulfonylhydrazone of a methyl         ketone that is further geminally substituted on the methyl group         by two substituents (Y′ and Y″) capable of being eliminated from         this initial, and the intermediate, substituted hydrazones as         HY′ and HY″ (or as conjugate bases thereof) (Scheme 6 shows an         example drawn from the range of suitable methods);     -   (h) by reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond of an         unsaturated compound formed for instance by process (e) (i) in         which the T substituent (as defined by (TA1)) is linked via an         sp² carbon atom, to form the saturated analogue (Scheme 7 shows         examples drawn from a range of suitable methods);     -   (i) and thereafter if necessary: (i) removing any protecting         groups; (ii) forming a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt; (iii)         forming an in-vivo hydrolysable ester.     -   (a) Methods for converting substituents into other substituents         are known in the art. For example an alkylthio group may be         oxidised to an alkylsulfinyl or alkysulfonyl group, a cyano         group reduced to an amino group, a nitro group reduced to an         amino group, a hydroxy group alkylated to a methoxy group, a         hydroxy group thiomethylated to an arylthiomethyl or a         heteroarylthiomethyl group (see, for example, Tet.Lett., 585,         1972), a carbonyl group converted to a thiocarbonyl group (eg.         using Lawsson's reagent) or a bromo group converted to an         alkylthio group.     -   (b)(i) Reaction (b)(i) (in which LG is initially hydroxy) is         performed under Mitsunobu conditions, for example, in the         presence of tri-n-butylphosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate         (DEAD) in an organic solvent such as THF, and in the temperature         range 0° C.-60° C., but preferably at ambient temperature.         Details of Mitsunobu reactions are contained in Tet. Letts., 31,         699, (1990); The Mitsunobu Reaction, D. L. Hughes, Organic         Reactions, 1992, Vol.42, 335-656 and Progress in the Mitsunobu         Reaction, D. L. Hughes, Organic Preparations and Procedures         International, 1996, Vol.28, 127-164. The general method is         illustrated in Scheme 2.     -   (b)(ii) Reactions (b)(ii) are performed conveniently in the         presence of a suitable base such as, for example, an alkali or         alkaline earth metal carbonate, alkoxide or hydroxide, for         example sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate, or, for         example, an organic amine base such as, for example, pyridine,         2,6-lutidine, collidine, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, triethylamine,         morpholine or diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, the reaction is         also preferably carried out in a suitable inert solvent or         diluent, for example methylene chloride, acetonitrile,         tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, N,N-dimethylformamide,         N,N-dimethylacetamide, N-methylpyrrolidin-2-one or         dimethylsulfoxide at and at a temperature in the range 25-60° C.

When LG is chloro, the compound of the formula (II) may be formed by reacting a compound of the formula (II) wherein LG is hydroxy (hydroxy compound) with a chlorinating agent. For example, by reacting the hydroxy compound with thionyl chloride, in a temperature range of ambient temperature to reflux, optionally in a chlorinated solvent such as dichloromethane or by reacting the hydroxy compound with carbon tetrachloride/triphenyl phosphine in dichloromethane, in a temperature range of 0° C. to ambient temperature. A compound of the formula (II) wherein LG is chloro or iodo may also be prepared from a compound of the formula (II) wherein LG is mesylate or tosylate, by reacting the latter compound with lithium chloride or lithium iodide and crown ether, in a suitable organic solvent such as THF, in a temperature range of ambient temperature to reflux When LG is (1-4C)alkanesulfonyloxy or tosylate the compound (II) may be prepared by reacting the hydroxy compound with (1-4C)alkanesulfonyl chloride or tosyl chloride in the presence of a mild base such as triethylamine or pyridine.

When LG is a phosphoryl ester (such as PhO₂—P(O)—O—) or Ph₂—P(O)—O— the compound (II) may be prepared from the hydroxy compound under standard conditions.

If not commercially available, compounds of the formula (III) may be prepared by procedures which are selected from standard chemical techniques, techniques which are analogous to the synthesis of known, structurally similar compounds, or techniques which are analogous to the procedures described in the Examples. For example, standard chemical techniques are as described in Houben Weyl. The general method is illustrated in Scheme 2.

-   -   (c) by reaction of T—Q—LG1 (IV) wherein LG1 is an amine,         urethane, or isocyanate with an N-epoxypropyl hetercycle (V).         Epoxides of the formula (V) may be prepared from the         corresponding N-allylheterocycle of formula (XII):         Certain such epoxide and alkene intermediates are novel and are         provided as a further feature of the invention. Asymmetric         epoxidation may be used to give the desired optical isomer.         Compounds of formula (VA) may be obtained from epoxides of         formula (V); alternatively compounds of formula (VA) may be used         as precursors for epoxides of formula (V) according to the         relative ease of synthesis in each case. The skilled chemist         will appreciate that the epoxides of formula (V) and the         compounds of formula (VA) are structurally equivalent and the         choice between them will be made on the grounds of availability,         convenience, and cost.

Furthermore, a similar reaction to reaction (c) may be performed in which Q—LG1 wherein LG1 is an amine group is reacted with the epoxide (V) (optionally in the presence of an organic base), and the product is reacted with, for example, phosgene to form the oxazolidinone ring.

Alternatively, a precursor of the group HET may be incorporated in place of the group HET in the epoxide of formula (V).

Such reactions and the preparation of starting materials in within the skill of the ordinary chemist with reference to the above-cited documents disclosing analogous reactions and preparations.

Compounds of the formula (II) wherein LG is hydroxy may be obtained as described in the references cited herein, for example, by reacting a compound T—Q—LG1 (IV) where LG1 is an amine, an isocyanate, or a urethane, especially a compound of the formula (IV, LG1=NHCO₂R²¹) with a compound of formula (XIII):

wherein R²¹ is (1-6C)alkyl or benzyl and R²² is (1-4C)alkyl or —S(O)_(n)(1-4C)alkyl where n is 0, 1 or 2. Preferably R²² is (1-4C)alkyl. Compounds of the formula (II), (IV), and (XIII) may be prepared by the skilled man, for example as described in International Patent Application Publication Nos. cited herein, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, and by analogous processes.

Compounds of the formula T—Q—LG1 wherein LG1 is a urethane may be prepared by the skilled chemist, for example by analogous processes to those described in International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO 97/30995 and WO 97/37980. Compounds of the formula Q—LG1 wherein LG1 is an isocyanate may be prepared by the skilled chemist, for example by analogous processes to those described in Walter A. Gregory et al in J. Med. Chem. 1990, 33, 2569-2578 and Chung-Ho Park et al in J. Med. Chem. 1992, 35, 1156-1165. The general method is illustrated in Scheme 3.

Compounds of the formula T—Q—LG1 wherein LG1 is an amine may be prepared by arylating an amine of formula (XIV), ( )x and ( )x′ are chains of length x and x′, which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TA2), or a bi-, or tricyclic ring analogue of (XII) which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TB); with a nitroarylhalide, such as 3,4-difluoronitrobenzene, and reducing the nitro-compound so produced to the corresponding amine. The thioether may be oxidized to a sulfimine or sulfoximine at any convenient stage of the synthesis. Examples of the way that such reactions can be employed in the overall synthesis in different orders according to convenience are shown in Scheme 3A.

Suitable amine thioethers of the type shown in formula (XIV) may be synthesized by combination of the methods well-known in the art for the separate synthesis of cyclic amines and cyclic thioethers. Cyclic thioethers are readily available by reaction of sulfide anion with bifunctional alkylating agents, such as dibromides or bis-mesylates derived from diols. Certain cyclic thioethers are also available by cycloadditions, such as 1,3-dipolarcycloadditions of thiocarbonyl-ylids to olefins to give tetrahydrothiophenes and 1,4-cycloaddition of thiocarbonyl compounds to 1,3-dienes to give dihydrothiopyrans. Cyclic amines are available by similar reactions of analogous nitrogen compounds. In addition, cyclic amines are available by reduction of a wide range of imides and lactams. It will be apparent to the skilled chemist that the similar functional groups used to prepare the cyclic thioether and cyclic amine functionality may need to be selectively protected by methods known in the art.

-   -   (d) Convenient methods for aminating thioethers or sulfoxides         are indicated in Michael Reggelin and Cornelia Zur in Synthesis,         2000, 1, 1-64. Further references include Reggelin et al,         Tetrahedron Letters, 1992, 33 (46), 6959-6962; Reggelin et al,         Tetrahedron Letters, 1992, 36 (33), 5885-5886; and Gage et al,         Tetrahedron Letters, 2000, 41, 4301-4305.

For substrates containing nucleophilic nitrogen atoms such as tertiary arylamines it is advantageous to use an acidic reaction mixture such as sodium azide in polyphosphoric acid to reduce the amount of amination on nitrogen. Sufoximines may be made either by oxidizing thioethers first to the corresponding sufoxides and then to the sulfoximines or by oxidizing thioethers first to the corresponding sulfilimines (sulfimines) and then to the sulfoximine. The general method for aminating thioethers or sulfoxides and for oxidizing sulfimines is illustrated in Scheme 4. Convenient methods for the preparation of functionalised sulfilimines and sulfoximines include those in which a sulfilimine or sulfoximine is (i) alkylated, for instance by reductive amination using aldehydes, (ii) acylated for instance using acid chlorides in pyridine, or (iii) arylated, for instance by palladium coupling with (hetero)aryl halides or by cyclisation and heteroaromatisation of an acyclic substituent on the sulfoximine N. The general method for refunctionalizing sulfimines or sulfoximines in the final step is also illustrated in Scheme 4.

-   -   (e) (i) The transition metal catalysed coupling reaction to form         a C—C or N—C bond from the corresponding aryl derivatives and         the cyclic sulfoximines and sulfimines is performed under         conventional conditions (see for instance J. K. Stille, Angew.         Chem. Int. Ed. Eng., 1986, 25, 509-524; N. Miyaura and A.         Suzuki, Chem. Rev., 1995, 95, 22457-2483; D. Baranano, G. Mann,         and J. F. Hartwig, Current Org. Che., 1997, 1, 287-305; S. P.         Stanforth, Tetrahedron, 1998, 54, 263-303). The cyclic         sulfoxides and sulfimines used in reaction (e) (i) may be         obtained by oxidation of the corresponding cyclic         aminothioethers described for (c) according to the methods         analogous to those of reaction (d). The general method is         illustrated in Scheme 5.     -   (e) (ii) The reaction e (ii) may be conveniently carried out         under the conditions described Tetrahedron Letters (2001),         42(22), 3681-3684, or in the analogous conventional conditions         described in the above mentioned literature. In such a procedure         a preferred variation of LG4 may be bromine.     -   (f) The cycloaddition-cycloreversion reaction to form 1,2,3         triazoles from the corresponding azide is performed under         conventional Diels-Alder reaction conditions. The method is         illustrated in Scheme 2.         Compounds of the formula (II) wherein LG is azide may be         obtained as described in the references cited herein         (particularly in the section proceeding the discussion of         protecting groups), for example from the corresponding compounds         in which LG is hydroxy or mesylate.     -   (g) The reaction of amines of formula (II, LG═NH2) with         arenesulfonyl hydrazones to form 1,2,3 triazoles may be carried         out as described in the literature (Sakai, Kunikazu; Hida,         Nobuko; Kondo, Kiyosi. Reactions of α-polyhalo ketone         tosylhydrazones with sulfide ion and primary amines. Cyclization         to 1,2,3-thiadiazoles and 1,2,3-triazoles. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn.         (1986), 59(1), 179-83; Sakai, Kunikazu; Tsunemoto, Daiei;         Kobori, Takeo; Kondo, Kiyoshi; Hida, Nobuko. 1,2,3-Trihetero         5-membered heterocyclic compounds, EP 103840 A2 19840328). The         leaving groups Y, Y′ may be chloro or any other group capable of         being eliminated from the arenesulfonyl hydrazone during the         reaction with the amine. The skilled chemist will also         appreciate that a similar reaction may be used to produce other         substituted triazoles suitable for incorporation into related         processes such as reaction with compounds of formula (IV) in         process (c).     -   (h) The reduction of a compound formed by process (e) in which         the T substituent (as defined by (TA1)) is linked via an sp²         carbon atom, to form the saturated analogue, may be performed         using methods from the standard range of hydrogenations. For         example, a dihydrothiopyran may be reduced to produce the         tetrahydrothiopyran analogue.

The following Schemes illustrate process chemistry which allows preparation of compounds of the formula (I); wherein A and R are values suitable to provide the compounds of formula (I) defined herein. The Schemes may be genericised by the skilled man to apply to compounds within the present specification which are not specifically illustrated in the Schemes (for example to HET as a 6-membered ring as defined herein).

The removal of any protecting groups, the formation of a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt and/or the formation of an in vivo hydrolysable ester are within the skill of an ordinary organic chemist using standard techniques. Furthermore, details on the these steps, for example the preparation of in-vivo hydrolysable ester prodrugs has been provided in the section above on such esters, and in certain of the following non-limiting Examples.

Certain novel intermediates utilised in the above processes are provided as a further feature of the invention.

Convenient methods for the preparation of compounds of the formula (IB) include those in which as a last step;

-   -   (i) a sulfoxide is converted into a sulfoximine;     -   (ii) a sulfilimine is oxidised to the corresponding sulfoximine     -   (iii) an appropriate compound heterocycle —Y—Z is coupled to an         appropriate corresponding oxazolidinone intermediate.     -   (iv) a preformed sulfilimine or sulfoximine ring-containing         intermediate is coupled to an aryloxazolidinone.

Such methods are shown by way of non-limiting illustration below wherein LG6 represents a convenient leaving group:

Convenient methods for functionalised sulfilimines and sulfoximines include those in which a sulfilimine or sulfoximine is (i) alkylated, (ii) acylated or (iii) arylated. A detailed review of sulfoximine chemistry is provided by Michael Reggelin and Cornelia Zur in Synthesis, 2000, 1, 1-64. Further references include Reggelin et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 1992, 33 (46), 6959-6962; Reggelin et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 1992, 36 (33), 5885-5886; and Gage et al, Tetrahedron Letters, 2000, 41, 4301-4305.

General guidance on reaction conditions and reagents may be obtained in Advanced Organic Chemistry, 4^(th) Edition, Jerry March (publisher: J. Wiley & Sons), 1992. Necessary starting materials may be obtained by standard procedures of organic chemistry, such as described in this process section, in the Examples section or by analogous procedures within the ordinary skill of an organic chemist. Certain references are also provided (see above) which describe the preparation of certain suitable starting materials, for particular example see International Patent Application Publication No. WO 97/37980, the contents of which are incorporated here by reference. Processes analogous to those described in the references may also be used by the ordinary organic chemist to obtain necessary starting materials.

Methods for converting substituents into other substituents are known in the art. For example an alkylthio group may be oxidised to an alkylsulfinyl or alkylsulfonyl group, a cyano group reduced to an amino group, a nitro group reduced to an amino group, a hydroxy group alkylated to a methoxy group, a hydroxy group converted to an arylthiomethyl or a heteroarylthiomethyl group (see, for example, Tet.Lett., 585, 1972), a carbonyl group converted to a thiocarbonyl group (eg. using Lawsson's reagent) or a bromo group converted to an alkylthio group. It is also possible to convert one R2_(F) group into another R2_(F) group as a final step in the preparation of a compound of the formula (IB).

One compound of formula (IB) may be converted into another compound of formula (IB) by reacting a compound of formula (IB) in which a substituent is halo with a suitable compound to form another compound. Thus, for example, halo may be displaced by suitable vinyl, aromatic, tropolone and nitrogen-linked systems by reaction using known Pd(0) coupling techniques.

Further examples of converting substituents into other substituents are contained in the accompanying non-limiting Examples.

Certain compounds may be prepared by the skilled chemist, for example as described in International Patent Application Publication Nos. WO95/07271, WO97/27188, WO 97/30995, WO 98/01446 and WO 98/01447, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference, and by analogous processes.

If not commercially available, compounds may be prepared by procedures which are selected from standard chemical techniques, techniques which are analogous to the synthesis of known, structurally similar compounds, or techniques which are analogous to the procedures described in the Examples. For example, standard chemical techniques are as described in Houben Weyl, Methoden der Organische Chemie, E8a, Pt.I (1993), 45-225, B. J. Wakefield (for isoxazoles) and E8c, Pt.I (1994), 409-525, U. Kraatz (for 1,2,4-oxadiazoles). Also, for example, 3-hydroxyisoxazole may be prepared by cyclisation of CH≡C—CO—NHOH (prepared from CH≡C—CO—O-(1-4C)alkyl) as described in Chem.Pharm.Bull.Japan, 14, 92, (1966).

The removal of any protecting groups, the formation of a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt and/or the formation of an in vivo hydrolysable ester are within the skill of an ordinary organic chemist using standard techniques. Furthermore, details on the these steps, for example the preparation of in-vivo hydrolysable ester prodrugs has been provided in the section above on such esters, and in certain of the following non-limiting Examples.

When an optically active form of a compound of the formula (I) is required, it may be obtained by carrying out one of the above procedures using an optically active starting material (formed, for example, by asymmetric induction of a suitable reaction step), or by resolution of a racemic form of the compound or intermediate using a standard procedure, or by chromatographic separation of diastereoisomers (when produced). Enzymatic techniques may also be useful for the preparation of optically active compounds and/or intermediates.

Similarly, when a pure regioisomer of a compound of the formula (I) is required, it may be obtained by carrying out one of the above procedures using a pure regioisomer as a starting material, or by separation of a mixture of the regioisomers or intermediates using a standard procedure.

According to a further feature of the invention there is provided a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester or amide thereof for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy.

According to a further feature of the present invention there is provided a method for producing an antibacterial effect in a warm blooded animal, such as man, in need of such treatment, which comprises administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof.

The invention also provides a compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, for use as a medicament, and for use as an antibacterial agent; and the use of a compound of the formula (I) of the present invention, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the production of an antibacterial effect in a warm blooded animal, such as man.

In order to use a compound of the formula (I), an in-vivo hydrolysable ester or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, including a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of an in-vivo hydrolysable ester, (hereinafter in this section relating to pharmaceutical composition “a compound of this invention”) for the therapeutic (including prophylactic) treatment of mammals including humans, in particular in treating infection, it is normally formulated in accordance with standard pharmaceutical practice as a pharmaceutical composition.

Therefore in another aspect the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition which comprises a compound of the formula (I), an in-vivo hydrolysable ester or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, including a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of an in-vivo hydrolysable ester, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be administered in standard manner for the disease condition that it is desired to treat, for example by oral, rectal, topical or parenteral administration. For these purposes the compounds of this invention may be formulated by means known in the art into the form of, for example, tablets, capsules, aqueous or oily solutions or suspensions, (lipid) emulsions, dispersible powders, suppositories, ointments, creams, aerosols (or sprays), drops and sterile injectable aqueous or oily solutions or suspensions.

In addition to the compounds of the present invention the pharmaceutical composition of this invention may also contain or be co-administered (simultaneously, sequentially or separately) with one or more known drugs selected from other clinically useful antibacterial agents (for example, β-lactams or aminoglycosides) and/or other anti-infective agents (for example, an antifungal triazole or amphotericin). These may include carbapenems, for example meropenem or imipenem, to broaden the therapeutic effectiveness. Compounds of this invention may also contain or be co-administered with bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) products or efflux pump inhibitors to improve activity against gram negative bacteria and bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents.

A suitable pharmaceutical composition of this invention is one suitable for oral administration in unit dosage form, for example a tablet or capsule which contains between 1 mg and 1 g of a compound of this invention, preferably between 100 mg and 1 g of a compound. Especially preferred is a tablet or capsule which contains between 50 mg and 800 mg of a compound of this invention, particularly in the range 100 mg to 500 mg.

In another aspect a pharmaceutical composition of the invention is one suitable for intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, for example an injection which contains between 0.1% w/v and 50% w/v (between 1 mg/ml and 500 mg/ml) of a compound of this invention.

Each patient may receive, for example, a daily intravenous, subcutaneous or intramuscular dose of 0.5 mgkg-¹ to 20 mgkg-¹ of a compound of this invention, the composition being administered 1 to 4 times per day. In another embodiment a daily dose of 5 mgkg-¹ to 20 mgkg-¹ of a compound of this invention is administered. The intravenous, subcutaneous and intramuscular dose may be given by means of a bolus injection. Alternatively the intravenous dose may be given by continuous infusion over a period of time. Alternatively each patient may receive a daily oral dose which may be approximately equivalent to the daily parenteral dose, the composition being administered 1 to 4 times per day. A pharmaceutical composition to be dosed intravenously may contain advantageously (for example to enhance stability) a suitable bactericide, antioxidant or reducing agent, or a suitable sequestering agent.

In the above other, pharmaceutical composition, process, method, use and medicament manufacture features, the alternative and preferred embodiments of the compounds of the invention described herein also apply.

Antibacterial Activity:

The pharmaceutically-acceptable compounds of the present invention are useful antibacterial agents having a good spectrum of activity in vitro against standard Gram-positive organisms, which are used to screen for activity against pathogenic bacteria. Notably, the pharmaceutically-acceptable compounds of the present invention show activity against enterococci, pneumococci, methicillin resistant strains of S.aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci, haemophilus and moraxella strains. The antibacterial spectrum and potency of a particular compound may be determined in a standard test system.

The (antibacterial) properties of the compounds of the invention may also be demonstrated and assessed in-vivo in conventional tests, for example by oral and/or intravenous dosing of a compound to a warm-blooded mammal using standard techniques.

The following results were obtained on a standard in-vitro test system. The activity is described in terms of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined by the broth-dilution technique with an inoculum size of 5×10⁴ CFU/spot. Typically, compounds are active in the range 0.01 to 256 μg/ml.

Staphylococci were tested in broth using an inoculum of 5×10⁴ CFU/spot and an incubation temperature of 37° C. for 16-24 hours.

Streptococci were tested in Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with 2.5% clarified lake horse blood with an innoculum of 10⁴ CFU/well and an incubation temperature of 37° C. aerobically for 24 hours.

Fastidious Gram negative organisms were tested in Mueller-Hinton broth supplemented with hemin and NAD, grown aerobically for 24 h at 37° C., and with an innoculum of 5×10⁴ CFU/well. MIC (μg/ml) Organism Example 2 Staphylococcus aureus: MSQS 1 MRQR 8 Streptococcus pneumoniae 2 Streptococcus pyogenes 2 Haemophilus influenzae 8 Moraxella catarrhalis 8

-   -   MSQS=methicillin sensitive and quinolone sensitive     -   MRQR=methincillin resistant and quinolone resistant

Certain intermediates and/or Reference Examples described hereinafter within the scope of the invention may also possess useful activity, and are provided as a further feature of the invention.

The invention is now illustrated but not limited by the following Examples in which unless otherwise stated:

-   -   i) evaporations were carried out by rotary evaporation in vacuo         and work-up procedures were carried out after removal of         residual solids by filtration;     -   (ii) operations were carried out at ambient temperature, that is         typically in the range 18-26° C. and in air unless otherwise         stated, or unless the skilled person would otherwise work under         an inert atmosphere; where unspecified, temperatures are quoted         in ° C.;     -   (iii) column chromatography (by the flash procedure) was used to         purify compounds and was performed on Merck Kieselgel silica         (Art. 9385) unless otherwise stated;     -   (iv) yields are given for illustration only and are not         necessarily the maximum attainable;     -   (v) the structure of the end-products of the invention were         generally confirmed by NMR and mass spectral techniques [proton         magnetic resonance spectra were generally determined in DMSO-D6         unless otherwise stated using a Varian Gemini 2000 spectrometer         operating at a field strength of 300 MHz, or a Bruker AM250         spectrometer operating at a field strength of 250 MHz; chemical         shifts are reported in parts per million downfield from         tetramethysilane as an internal standard (6 scale) and peak         multiplicities are shown thus: s, singlet; d, doublet; AB or dd,         doublet of doublets; t, triplet, m, multiplet; fast-atom         bombardment (FAB) mass spectral data were generally obtained         using a Platform spectrometer (supplied by Micromass) run in         electrospray and, where appropriate, either positive ion data or         negative ion data were collected];     -   (vi) each intermediate was purified to the standard required for         the subsequent stage and was characterised in sufficient detail         to confirm that the assigned structure was correct; purity was         in general assessed by HPLC, TLC, infra-red (IR), MS or NMR         analysis; and identity was determined by IR, MS or NMR         spectroscopy as appropriate; and     -   (vii) in which the following abbreviations may be used:         -   ® is a Trademark; DMF is N,N-dimethylformamide; DMA is             N,N-dimethylacetamide;         -   TLC is thin layer chromatography; HPLC is high pressure             liquid chromatography;         -   MPLC is medium pressure liquid chromatography; DMSO is             dimethylsulfoxide;         -   DMSO-d6 is deuterated DMSO;         -   CDCl₃ is deuterated chloroform; MS is mass spectroscopy; ESP             is electrospray; EI is electron impact; CI is chemical             ionisation; APCI is atmospheric pressure chemical             ionisation; THF is tetrahydrofuran; TFA is trifluoroacetic             acid; NMP is N-methylpyrrolidone;         -   HOBT is 1-hydroxy-benzotriazole; EtOAc is ethyl acetate;             MeOH is methanol;         -   phosphoryl is (HO)₂—P(O)—O—; phosphiryl is (HO)₂—P—O—; EDC             is 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide             (hydrochloride); PTSA is para-toluenesulfonic acid.

EXAMPLES Example 1

(5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1RS-1-imino-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

(5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1RS-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone (0.951 g, 2.5 mmol) was dissolved/suspended in dichloromethane (10 ml) at ambient temperature. O-mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (0.68 g, 3.2 mmol, see Synthesis, 1972, 140), in dichloromethane (10 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture stirred at ambient temperature for 18 hours. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the reaction mixture taken up in methanol (5 ml). The resulting precipitate was collected by filtration and subjected to chromatography on silica gel. with a gradient of 2-20% methanol in dichloromethane to give the desired product (220 mg) as free base.

MS (APCI): 392 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₈FN₅O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.89 (m, 2H); 3.20 (m, 2H); 3.83 (brs, 3H); 3.92 (dd, 1H); 4.26 (dd, 1H); 4.86 (m, 2H); 5.17 (m, 1H); 5.81 (m, 1H); 7.28 (dd, 1H); 7.38 (dd, 1H); 7.45 (dd, 1H); 7.79 (s, 1H); 8.19 (s, 1H).

The intermediates for this compound were prepared as follows: (5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1RS-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

(5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone (1.25 g, 3.5 mmol) was stirred in a mixture of methanol and ethyl acetate (1:1, 50 ml) at ambient temperature. Sodium periodate (0.93 g, 4.3 mmol) in water (10 ml) was added dropwise, and it was stirred for 18 hours. Precipitated salts were removed by filtration and solvents were removed under vacuum. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel, washing with 25% acetone in dichloromethane, then eluting with 5 to 7% methanol in dichloromethane to give the title product (1.152 g).

MS (ESP): 377 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₇FN₄O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.57 (m, 1H); 2.91 (m, 1H); 2.97 (m, 1H); 3.13 (m, 1H); 3.39 (m, 1H); 3.67 (m, 1H); 3.92 (dd, 1H); 4.27 (dd, 1H); 4.86 (m, 2H); 5.17 (m, 1H); 5.84 (m, 1H); 7.28 (dd, 1H); 7.39 (dd, 1H); 7.45 (dd, 1H); 7.79 (d, 1H); 8.20 (d, 1H). (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

(5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-azidomethyl-2-oxazolidinone (2 g, 5.7 mmol) was dissolved in dioxane (10 ml). Bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (3.1 ml, 28.7 mmol) was added and it was refluxed under nitrogen for 18 hours. The solvent was evaporated in vacuo and the residue subjected to chromatography on silica gel eluting with 25% ethylacetate in dichloromethane to give the title compound (1.51 g).

MS (ESP): 361 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₇FN₄O₂S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.56 (m, 2H); 2.83 (dd, 2H); 3.31 (m, 2H); 3.91 (dd, 1H); 4.26 (dd, 1H); 4.86 (m, 2H); 5.17 (m, 1H); 6.06(m, 1H); 7.25 (dd, 1H); 7.33 (dd, 1H); 7.42 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.19 (d, 1H). (5R)-3-[4-(36-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-azidomethyl-2-oxazolidinone

Methanesulfonic acid (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl ester (8 g, 19.7 mmol) and sodium azide (4 g, 61.5 mmol) were heated in N,N-dimethylformamide (75 ml) at 80° C. for 2 hours. It was cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7) and with water and dried over sodium sulfate. After evaporation of the solvent the title product was obtained as a brown oil (˜7 g, crude).

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.56 (m, 2H); 2.83 (dd, 2H); 3.31 (m, 2H); 3.71 (dd, 1H); 3.80 (dd, 1H); 3.81 (dd, 1H); 4.17 (dd, 1H); 4.92 (m, 1H); 6.06(m, 1H); 7.34 (m, 2H); 7.50 (m, 1H). (No MS) Methanesulfonic acid (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl ester

(SR)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone (14 g, 45.3 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (300 ml) and triethylamine (8.8 ml, 63.3 mmol) was added. It was cooled to −20° C. and methanesulfonyl chloride (4.22 ml, 54.4 mmol), dissolved in dichloromethane (50 ml), was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was quenched with potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7). Dichloromethane was removed under vacuum and it was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. The title compound (16.9 g) was precipitated from dichloromethane by addition of hexane.

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.56 (m, 2H); 2.83 (dd, 2H); 3.28 (s, 3H); 3.32 (m, 2H); 3.85 (dd, 1H); 4.21 (dd, 1H); 4.48 (dd, 1H); 4.53 (dd, 1H); 5.04 (m, 1H); 6.07 (m, 1H); 7.33 (dd, 1H); 7.36 (dd, 1H); 7.50 (dd, 1H). (No MS) (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3-fluorophenyl]-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone

4-(2-Fluoro-4-benzyloxycarbonylaminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran (15.3 g, 44.6 mM) was dissolved on dry tetrahydrofuran (175 ml) and stirred under nitrogen at −70. n-Butyllithium (1.6M in hexanes, 30 ml, 175 mM) was run in over 20 minutes, keeping the temperature below −60°, and the mixture then stirred a further 10 minutes at −70°. A solution of (R)-glycidyl butyrate (6.42 g, 44.62 mM) dissolved in dry tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) was added dropwise over 10 minutes keeping temperature below −60°, and the mixture left to warm to ambient temperature over 18 hours. Methanol (29 ml) was added, and the mixture stirred for 10 minutes only. Saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (200 ml) was added, and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate (400 ml). The extract was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (100 ml), brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate). Filtered and evaporated.

The crude product was purified on a 300 g silica sinter column, eluting with a gradient from 0% to 100% ethyl acetate in dichloromethane. Relevant fractions were combined, reduced to a small volume, and diluted with an excess of isohexane to precipitate the desired product (11.3 g).

MS (ESP): 310 (MH⁺) for C₁₅H₁₆FNO₃S

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.52 (m overlapped by DMSO, ˜2H); 2.78 (t, 2H); 3.27 (m, 2H); 3.52 (m, 1H); 3.65 (m, 1H); 3.80 (dd, 1H); 4.06 (dd, 1H); 4.65 (m, 1H); 5.19 (t, 1H); 6.01 (s, 1H); 7.28 (m, 2H); 7.47 (dd, 1H). 4-(2-Fluoro-4-benzyloxycarbonylaminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran

4-(2-Fluoro-4-aminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran (9.8 g, 46.8 mM) was dissolved in dry dichloromethane (196 ml), pyridine (6.23 g, 79.1 mM) added, and the mixture stirred under nitrogen at −20°. A solution of benzyl chloroformate (9.54 g, 53.9 mM) dissolved in dry dichloromethane (25 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture left to warm to ambient temperature over 18 hours. The mixture was washed with 1 M hydrochloric acid (200 ml), then brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated to a small volume. The addition of isohexane (300 ml) precipitated the desired product (15.5 g).

MS (Negative ESP): 342 (M−H⁻) for C₁₉H₁₈FNO₂S

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.50 (s, 2H); 2.79 (t, 2H); 3.26 (m, 2H); 5.15 (s, 2H); 5.99 (s, 1H); 7.18 (m, 2H); 7.38 (m, 6H); 10.01 (s, 1H). 4-(2-Fluoro-4-aminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran

4-Hydroxy4-(2-fluoro-4-aminophenyl)tetrahydrothiopyran (11.35 g, 50 mM) and butylated hydroxytoluene (50 mg) as antioxidant were suspended in a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid (37%, 200 ml) and water (50 ml), and stirred at 80° under nitrogen for 18 hours. Glacial acetic acid (150 ml) was added, and reaction continued at 80° for a further 5 hours. After cooling, the reaction was made basic by the cautious addition of concentrated ammonia and ice. The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (400 ml), the extract washed with water (100 ml), brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated to give the title product (10 g) as a dark oil.

NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 2.59 (m, 2H); 2.72 (t, 2H); 3.30 (m, 2H); 3.80 (br, 2H); 5.93 (m, 1H); 6.35 (dd, 1H); 6.39 (dd, 1H); 6.97 (t, 1H).

Example 2

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-imino-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone (0.54 g, 1.4 mmol) was dissolved/suspended in dichloromethane (20 ml) at ambient temperature. O-Mesitylenesulfonylhydroxylamine (0.3 g, 1.4 mmol, see Synthesis, 1972, 140), in dichloromethane (3 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture stirred at ambient temperature for 12 hours. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the product was precipitated from methanol by the addition of ethylacetate to give the title compound (0.72 g) as its mesitylene sulfonate salt.

MS (ESP): 410 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₇F₂N₅O₃S

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.19 (s, 2×3H ); 2.55 (s, 2×6H ); 2.92 (br, 2×2H ); 3.80-4.06 (m, 2×3H); 4.27 (m, 2×1H); 4.43 (brs, 2×1H); 4.51 (brs, 2×1H); 4.86 (m, 2×1H); 5.03 (m, 2×1H); 5.21 (m, 2×1H); 5.86 (m, 2×1H); 6.76 (s, 2×2H); 7.33 (d, 2H); 7.39 (d, 2H); 7.79 (s, 1H); 8.20 (s, 1H); 8.50 (brs, 1H); 8.71 (s, 1H); 8.89 (s, 1H). 3 exchangeables not detected, complex spectrum resulting from diasteromeric mixture.

The intermediates for this compound were prepared as follows: (5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

(R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone (0.86 g, 2.3 mmol) was stirred in a mixture of methanol and ethyl acetate (1:1, 20 ml) at ambient temperature. Sodium periodate (0.50 g, 2.4 mmol) in water (10 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture stirred for 3 hours. Precipitated salts were removed by filtration and washed with ethyl acetate. The filtrate was washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated to dryness. The residue was chromatographed on silica gel eluting with 5% methanol in dichloromethane to give the title product (0.69 g).

MS (ESP): 395 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₆F₂N₄O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.41 (brs, 1H); 2.80 (m, 1H); 2.97 (brs, 1H); 3.15 (m, 1H); 3.39 (m, 1H); 3.67 (brs, 1H); 3.94 (m, 1H); 4.25 (dd, 1H); 4.85 (brs, 2H); 5.19 (m, 1H); 5.75 (brs, 1H); 7.33 (d, 2H); 7.79 (brs, 1H); 8.20 (brs, 1H ). (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-2-oxazolidinone

Methanesulfonic acid (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl ester (1.1 g, 5.7 mmol) was dissolved in dry N,N-dimethylformamide (5 ml) and sodium azide (0.35 g, 5.43 mmol) was added. It was heated at 60° C. for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with ethylacetate, washed with water and dried over magnesium sulfate. Solvent was removed under vacuum to give an oil. The crude intermediate azide was not characterized. It was taken up in 1,4-dioxane (20 ml), bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (1.0 g, 10.9 mmol) was added and it was refluxed for 12 hours. Solvent was removed under vacuum and the residue chromatographed on silica gel with 5% methanol in dichloromethane to give the title compound (0.62 g).

MS (ESP): 379 (MH⁺) for C₁₇H₁₆F₂N₄O₂S

NMR(DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.43 (brs, 2H); 2.83 (dd, 2H); 3.31 (brs, 2H); 3.92 (m, 1H); 4.25 (dd, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.18 (m, 1H); 5.98 (brs, 1H); 7.28 (d, 2H); 7.79 (brs, 1H); 8.19 (brs, 1H). Methanesulfonic acid (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-2-oxo-oxazolidin-5-ylmethyl ester

(5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidin one (4.0 g, 12.2 mmol) was dissolved in dichloromethane (50 ml) and triethylamine (1.85 g, 18.3 mmol) was added. Methanesulfonyl chloride (1.68 g, 14.6 mmol) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour. It was washed with saturated aqueous sodium hydrogencarbonate solution, then with brine and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvent was removed under vacuum and the title compound (5.0 g) was precipitated from dichloromethane by addition of hexanes.

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.44 (m, 2H); 2.84 (dd, 2H); 3.28 (s, 3H); 3.31 (m, 2H); 3.86 (dd, 1H); 4.20 (dd, 1H); 4.50 (m, 2H); 5.10 (m, 1H); 5.99 (m, 1H); 7.36 (d, 2H). (No MS) (5R)-3-[4-(3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran-4-yl)-3,5-difluorophenyl]-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone

4-(2,6-Difluoro-4-benzyloxycarbonylaminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran (22 g, 61 mM) was reacted with (R)-glycidyl butyrate under essentially the following conditions: material was dissolved in dry tetrahydrofuran (150 ml), and stirred under nitrogen at −70°. n-Butyllithium (1.6M in hexanes, 26 ml, 41.6 mM) was run in over 20 minutes, keeping the temperature below −60°, and the mixture then stirred a further 10 minutes at −70°. A solution of (R)-glycidyl butyrate (5.59 g, 38.8 mM) dissolved in dry tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) was added dropwise over 10 minutes keeping temperature below −60°, and the mixture left to warm to ambient temperature over 18 hours. Methanol (25 ml) was added, and the mixture stirred for 10 minutes only. Saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (200 ml) was added, and the mixture extracted with ethyl acetate (400 ml). The extract was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate (100 ml), brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated.

Crude product from the final extraction was precipitated from dichloromethane by isohexane, then recrystallised from isopropanol to give the desired product (16.2 g).

MS (ESP): 328 (MH⁺) for C₁₅H₁₅F₂NO₃S

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.40 (m, 2H); 2.81 (t, 2H); 3.28 (m, 2H); 3.53 (m, 1H); 3.67 (m, 1H); 3.82 (dd, 1H); 4.08 (t, 1H); 4.70 (m, 1H); 5.21 (t, 1H); 5.95 (s, 1H); 7.33 (d, 2H). 4-(2,6-Difluoro-4-benzyloxycarbonylaminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran

4-(2,6-Difluoro-4-aminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran (15 g, 66 mM) was treated with benzyl chloroformate under essentially the following conditions: material was dissolved in dry dichloromethane (175 ml), pyridine (5.57 g, 70.6 mM) added, and the mixture stirred under nitrogen at −20°. A solution of benzyl chloroformate (8.52 g, 49.9 mM) dissolved in dry dichloromethane (20 ml) was added dropwise, and the mixture left to warm to ambient temperature over 18 hours. The mixture was washed with 1 M hydrochloric acid (200 ml), then brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated to a small volume. The addition of isohexane (300 ml) precipitated the desired product. Similar treatment of the mother liquors from filtration gave more material; total yield (22.5 g).

MS (Negative ESP): 360 (M−H⁻) for C₁₉H₁₇F₂NO₂S

NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.37 (br, 2H); 2.78 (t, 2H); 3.24 (m, 2H); 5.16 (s, 2H); 5.89 (m, 1H); 7.17 (d, 2H); 7.38 (m, 5H); 10.18 (s, 1H). 4-(2,6-Difluoro-4-aminophenyl)-3,6-dihydro-2H-thiopyran

4-Hydroxy-4-(2,6-difluoro-4-aminophenyl)tetrahydrothiopyran (16.7 g, 68 mM) was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid under essentially the following conditions: butylated hydroxytoluene (50 mg) used as antioxidant, materials were suspended in a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric acid (37%, 200 ml) and water (50 ml), and stirred at 80° under nitrogen for 18 hours. Glacial acetic acid (150 ml) was added, and reaction continued at 80° for a further 5 hours. After cooling, the reaction was made basic by the cautious addition of concentrated ammonia and ice. The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (400 ml), the extract washed with water (100 ml), brine (100 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated to give the title product (15.2 g) as a cream solid.

MS (ESP): 228 (MH⁺) for C₁₁H₁₁F₂NS

NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 2.48 (m, 2H); 2.83 (t, 2H); 3.30 (m, 2H); 3.80 (br, 2H); 5.87 (m, 1H); 6.16 (d, 2H). 4-Hydroxy-4-(2,6-difluoro-4-aminophenyl)tetrahydrothiopyran

3,5-Difluoroaniline (12.9 g, 0.1 M) was reacted with tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one under essentially the following conditions (except that n-butyllithium was used to generate both anions): dissolved in dry tetrahydrofuran (400 ml), stirred under nitrogen, and cooled to −78°. n-Butyllithium (1.6M in hexanes, 131 ml, 0.21 M) was run in over 15 minutes, keeping the temperature below −65°, and the mixture then stirred a further 30 minutes at −70°. Chlorotrimethylsilane (22.8 g, 0.21 M) in tetrahydrofuran (100 ml) was added dropwise over 15 minutes, keeping the temperature below −65°, after which the temperature was allowed to rise to ambient, and stirring continued for 40 minutes to complete the silylation. The mixture was then recooled to −78°, and sec-butyllithium (1.3M in cyclohexane, 84.3 ml, 0.11 M) added dropwise, and stirring continued at this temperature for 5 hours. A solution of tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one (12.5 g, 0.107 M) in tetrahydrofuran (80 ml) was added dropwise below −70°, and the temperature of the mixture allowed to come to ambient over 18 hours. After cooling in an ice-bath, the reaction was acidified with 1M hydrochloric acid to a pH<1 (˜500 ml), stirred 15 minutes, diethyl ether (1 L) added, and the phases separated. The organic layer was washed with 1 M hydrochloric acid (200 ml), the combined aqueous layers washed with diethyl ether (200 ml), then made basic with 880 ammonia plus a little ice, then re-extracted with diethyl ether (600 ml). The organic extract was washed with brine (300 ml), dried (magnesium sulfate), filtered and evaporated. Crude product was dissolved in hot dichloromethane (400 ml), evaporated to a low volume, then diluted with isohexane (300 ml). The desired product was precipitated from dichloromethane by isohexane to give a white solid (17.4 g).

MS (Negative ESP): 244 (M−H⁻) for C₁₁H₁₃F₂NOS

NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 2.26 (d, 2H); 2.39 (t, 4H); 2.65 (t, 1H); 3.27 (t, 2H); 3.82 (br, 2H); 6.17 (d, 2H).

Example 3

(5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1-imino-1-oxido-4-thiazin-4-yl)phenyl]-5-(1-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-(1-oxidothiomorpholin-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (0.5 g, 1.3 mmol) and sodium azide (0.19 g, 2.9 mmol) were added at ambient temperature under nitrogen to stirred polyphosphoric acid (10 g). The mixture was warmed at 60° C. for 12 h, cooled slowly to 0° C. and treated dropwise with water (40 ml) and then with enough 50% (w/w) sodium hydroxide to raise the pH to 11.0. This mixture was diluted with water (200 ml) then extracted with a mixture of chloroform and methanol (95:5). The organic extract was dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a residue that was purified by chromatography over silica-gel (elution with 10% methanol in ethyl acetate) to give the desired product (0.34 g) as a free base.

MS (APCI): 395 (M+H)⁺ for C₁₆H₁₉FN₆O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 3.14 (m, 4H); 3.37 (m, 2H); 3.45 (m, 2H); 3.79 (s, 1H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 4.23 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.14 (m, 1H); 7.14 (dd, 1H);, 7.19 (t, 1H); 7.43 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H).

The intermediates for this example were prepared as follows: (5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-thiomorpholin-4-ylphenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

A mixture of (5R)-5-(azidomethyl)-3-(3-fluoro-4-thiomorpholin-4-ylphenyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (20 g, 59 mmol) [Ref: J. Med. Chem. 1996, 39, 680-685] and bicyclo[2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene (20 ml) in dioxane (200 ml) was heated at reflux under nitrogen for 24 hours. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the involatile residue was purified by chromatography on silica-gel (elution with 10% methanol in dichloromethane) to give the title compound (18 g).

MS (APCI): 364 (M+H)⁺ for C₁₆H₁₈FN₅O₂S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.75 (t, 4H); 3.21 (t, 4H); 3.87 (dd, 1H); 4.21 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.13 (m, 1H); 7.12 (m, 2H); 7.40 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H). (5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1-oxidothiomorpholin-4-yl)phenyl ]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

A solution of (5R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-thiomorpholin-4-ylphenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (16.0 g, 44.1 mmol) in a mixture of methanol and chloroform (2:1; 300 ml) was treated dropwise with a solution of sodium periodate (11.3 g, 52.9 mmol) in water (200 ml). The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 18 hours and then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the involatile residue was diluted with water (150 ml) and then extracted with chloroform (6×250 ml). The combined organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to give a foamy solid. The foamy residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica-gel (elution with chloroform, and then with 5% methanol in chloroform) to give the title product (15.7 g).

MS (APCI): 380 (M+H)⁺ for C₁₆H₁₈FN₅O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.86 (m, 2H); 3.04 (m, 2H); 3.19 (dd, 2H); 3.53 (t, 2H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 4.22 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 7.15 (dd, 1H); 7.21 (t, 1H); 7.43 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.19 (d, 1H).

Example 4

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-[1-(methylimino)-1-oxido-4-thiazin-4-yl]phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

Trifluoroacetic acid (170 μl, 2.3 mmol) was added to a mixture of (5R)-3-[3-fluoro-4-(1-imino-1-oxido-4-thiazin-4-yl)phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 3) (0.3 g, 0.76 mmol), paraformaldehyde (0.1 g), and triethylsilane (364 μl, 2.3 mmol) in acetonitrile (8 ml) at room temperature. The mixture was stirred for 8 hours at room temperature under nitrogen, then diluted with water (50 ml), neutralized to pH 11, and extracted with 5% methanol in dichloromethane (4×50 ml). The combined organic extracts were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated to give an involatile residue that was purified by flash chromatography over silica-gel (elution with 5% methanol in dichloromethane) to give the title compound (0.34 g).

MS (APCI): 409 (M+H)⁺ for C₁₇H₂₁FN₆O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.69 (s, 3H); 3.20 (m, 2H); 3.27 (m, 2H); 3.37 (m, 2H); 3.43 (m, 2H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 4.22 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 7.14 (dd, 1H); 7.19 (t, 1H); 7.43 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H).

Example 5

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-(1-((1H-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)imino)-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

Trifluoroacetic acid (235 μl, 3.04 mmol) was added to a mixture of (5R)-3-[3-fluoro-4-(1-imino-1-oxido-4-thiazin-4-yl)phenyl]-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 3) (0.3 g, 0.76 mmol), imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde (0.29 g, 3.04 mmol), and triethylsilane (485 μl, 3.04 mmol) in acetonitrile (8 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred under nitrogen for 24 hours at 50° C., allowed to cool to room temperature, diluted with water (50 ml), neutralized to pH 11, and extracted with 5% methanol in dichloromethane (4×50 ml). The combined extracts were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure to give an involatile residue that was purified by flash chromatography over silica-gel (elution with 8% methanol in ethyl acetate) to give the title compound (0.18 g).

MS (APCI): 475 (M+H)⁺ for C₂₀H₂₃FN₈O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 3.23-3.42 (m, 8H); 3.87 (dd, 1H); 4.20 (s, 2H); 4.21 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 6.79 (s, 1H); 7.01 (s, 1H); 7.13-7.19 (m, 3H); 7.42 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H).

Example 6

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-(1-((1-methylthio-1-(N-cyanoimino)methyl)imino)-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

A mixture of (5R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-(1-imino-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 3) (1.0 g, 2.53 mmol) and dimethyl N-cyanodithioiminocarbonate was heated in a microwave oven at 140° C. for 1.5 hours. The involatile residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica-gel (elution with 7% methanol in ethyl acetate) to give the title compound (0.7 g).

MS (APCI): 493 (M+H)⁺ for C₁₉H₂₁FN₈O₃S₂

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 2.58 (s, 3H); 3.47 (m, 2H); 3.65 (m, 2H); 3.81 (m, 2H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 3.97 (m, 2H); 4.23 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 7.16 (dd, 1H); 7.23 (t, 1H); 7.44 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H).

Example 7

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-(1-((1-dimethylamino-1-(N-cyanoimino)methyl)imino)-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

A mixture of (5R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-(1-((1-methylthio-1-(N-cyanoimino)methyl)imino)-1-oxido-1λ⁶-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 6) (0.24 g, 0.49 mmol) and dimethylamine (5 ml of a 2M solution in tetrahydrofuran) was heated at 65° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the involatile residue was purified by flash chromatography over silica-gel (elution with 12% methanol in ethyl acetate) to give the title compound (0.18 g).

MS (APCI): 490 (M+H)⁺ for C₂₀H₂₄FN₉O₃S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 3.12 (s, 6H); 3.54 (m, 4H); 3.67 (m, 2H); 3.76 (m, 2H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 4.23 (t, 1H); 4.85 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 7.16 (dd, 1H); 7.23 (t, 1H); 7.44 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 8.18 (d, 1H).

Example 8

(5R)-3-(3-Fluoro-4-(1-((4-amino-5-methoxycarbonylthiazol-2-yl)imino)-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one

A mixture of (5R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-(1-((1-methylthio-1-(N-cyanoimino)methyl)imino)-1-oxido-4-thiazinan-4-yl)phenyl)-5-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-1,3-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 6) (0.4 g, 0.81 mmol) and methylthioglycolate (160 μl, 1.78 mmol) in dry ethanol (25 ml) was treated with triethylamine (2 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 hours then warmed up to 60° C. for 15 h. The mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure and the involatile residue was purified by chromatography on silica-gel (elution with 5% methanol in ethyl acetate) to give the title compound (180 mg).

MS (APCI): 551 (M+H)⁺ for C₂₁H₂₃FN₈O₅S₂

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 3.43 (m, 2H); 3.63 (m, 2H); 3.66 (s, 3H); 3.74 (m, 2H); 3.88 (dd, 1H); 3.94 (m, 2H); 4.22 (t, 1H); 4.84 (d, 2H); 5.15 (m, 1H); 6.86 (s, 2H); 7.15 (dd, 1H); 7.24 (t, 1H); 7.44 (dd, 1H); 7.78 (s, 1H); 8.18 (s, 1H).

Example 9

(5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1RS-1-(acetylimino)-1-oxo-2,3-dihydro-thiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one

(5R)-3-[3-Fluoro-4-(1RS-1-imino-1-oxo-3,6-dihydro-thiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 1) as its free base (0.18 g, 0.46 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (0.3 ml), dichloromethane (2 ml) was added and it was cooled to −20° C. 20 Acetylchloride (66 μl, 0.93 mmol) dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml) was added dropwise and it was stirred for 1 h. It was quenched with phosphate buffer pH 7, extracted with ethylacetate, washed with brine and dried over sodium sulfate. Chromatography on silicagel with acetone/hexane 2:1 gave 0.161 g of the title compound.

MS (ESP): 433.83 (MH⁺) for C₁₉H₂₀FN₅O₄S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 8.19 (d, 1H); 7.78 (brs, 1H); 7.47 (dd, 1H); 7.40 (dd, 1H); 7.29 (dd, 1H); 5.87 (m, 1H); 5.18 (m, 1H); 4.86 (d, 2H); 4.40 (m, 1H); 4.26 (dd, 1H); 4.23 (m, 1H); 3.92 (dd, 1H); 3.71 (m, 2H); 2.96 (m, 2H); 1.99 (s, 3H).

Example 10

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-(acetylimino)-1-oxo-2,3-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-imino-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 2) as its mesitylene sulfonate salt (0.1 g, 0.164 mmol) was dissolved in pyridine (0.3 ml), dichloromethane (2 ml) was added and it was cooled to −20° C. Acetylchloride (26 mg, 0.33 mmol) dissolved in dichloromethane (2 ml) was added dropwise and it was stirred for 30 min. It was quenched with methanol, extracted with ethylacetate, washed with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and brine and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Chromatography on silica gel with 5% methanol in dichloromethane gave 50 mg of the title compound.

MS (ESP): 451.75 (MH⁺) for C₁₉H₁₉F₂N₅O₄S

¹H-NMR (CDCl₃) δ: 7.81 (d, 1H); 7.79 (d, 1H); 7.10 (d, 2H); 5.78 (m, 1H); 5.12 (m, 1H); 4.82 (d, 2H); 4.51 (m, 1H); 4.18 (dd, 1H); 4.10 (m, 2H); 3.72 (m, 1H); 3.45 (m, 1H); 3.0 (m, 2H); 2.18 (s, 3H).

Example 11

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-(2-hydroxyl-acetylimino)-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one

(5R)-3-[3,5-Difluoro-4-(1RS-1-imino-1-oxo-3,6-dihydrothiopyran-4-yl)-phenyl]-5-(1,2,3-triazol-1-ylmethyl)-oxazolidin-2-one (Example 2) as its mesitylene sulfonate salt (0.2 g, 0.33 mmol) was reacted with acetyloxyacetyl chloride (90 mg, 0.66 mmol) following the procedure described under example 9. Chromatography on silica gel with 5% methanol in dichloromethane gave 100 mg of pure product. This intermediate was dissolved in 15 ml of methanol, catalytic amount of potassium carbonate was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours. Ammonium chloride (1 eq.) was added and the solvent was evaporated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography with acetone to give 50 mg of the title compound as white solid.

MS (ESP): 467.75 (MH⁺) for C₁₉H₁₉F₂N₅O₅S

¹H-NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ: 8.19 (d, 1H); 7.78 (d, 1H); 7.40 (d, 2H); 5.83 (m, 1H); 5.18 (m, 1H); 4.86 (d, 2H); 4.82 (dd, 1H); 4.45(m, 1H); 4.30 (m, 1H); 4.23 (dd, 1H); 3.92 (m, 3H); 3.71 (m, 2H); 2.90 (m, 2H). 

1. A compound of the formula (I), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or an in-vivo-hydrolysable ester thereof,

wherein (i) HET is an N-linked 5-membered, fully or partially unsaturated heterocyclic ring, containing either (i) 1 to 3 further nitrogen heteroatoms or (ii) a further heteroatom selected from O and S together with an optional further nitrogen heteroatom; which ring is optionally substituted on a C atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by an oxo or thioxo group; and/or which ring is optionally substituted on any available C atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by a substituent selected from (1-4C)alkyl, (2-4C)alkenyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino, di-(1-4C)alkylamino, (1-4C)alkylthio, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, cyano and trifluoromethyl and/or on an available nitrogen atom (provided that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by (1-4C)alkyl; or HET is an N-linked 6-membered di-hydro-heteroaryl ring containing up to three nitrogen heteroatoms in total (including the linking heteroatom), which ring is substituted on a suitable C atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by oxo or thioxo and/or which ring is optionally substituted on any available C atom, other than a C atom adjacent to the linking N atom, by one or two substituents independently selected from (1-4C)alkyl, (2-4C)alkenyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino, di-(1-4C)alkylamino, (1-4C)alkylthio, (1-4C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, halogen, cyano and trifluoromethyl and/or on an available nitrogen atom (provided that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by (1-4C)alkyl; and wherein at each occurrence of alkyl, alkenyl and cycloalkyl HET substituents, each is optionally substituted with one or more F, Cl or CN; or (ii) HET is selected from the structures (Za) to (Zf) below:

wherein u and v are independently 0 or 1; RT is selected from a substituent from the group (RTa) wherein RT is hydrogen, halogen, (1-4C)alkoxy, (2-4C)alkenyloxy, (2-4C)alkenyl, (2-4C)alkynyl, (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (3-6C)cycloalkenyl, amino, (1-4C)alkylamino, di-(1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino, (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH— or (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)_(q)— (wherein q is 0, 1 or 2); or RT is selected from the group (RTb) wherein RT is a (1-4C)alkyl group which is optionally substituted by one substituent selected from hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, amino, cyano, azido, (2-4C)alkenyloxy, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)_(q)—(wherein q is 0, 1 or 2), (3-6C)cycloalkyl, (3-6C)cycloalkenyl or an N-linked 5-membered heteroaryl ring, which ring contains either (i) 1 to 3 further nitrogen heteroatoms or (ii) a further heteroatom selected from O and S together with an optional further nitrogen heteroatom; which ring is optionally substituted on a carbon atom by an oxo or thioxo group; and/or the ring is optionally substituted on a carbon atom by 1 or 2 (1-4C)alkyl groups; and/or on an available nitrogen atom (provided that the ring is not thereby quatermised) by (1-4C)alkyl; or RT is selected from a group of formula (RTc1) to (RTc3): (RTc1) a fully saturated 4-membered monocyclic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S (optionally oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen or carbon atom; or (RTc2) a saturated or unsaturated 5-membered monocyclic ring containing 1 heteroatom selected from O, N and S (optionally oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised, or a ring carbon atom; or (RTc3) a saturated or unsaturated 6- to 8-membered monocyclic ring containing 1 or 2 heteroatoms independently selected from O, N and S (optionally oxidised), and linked via a ring nitrogen atom if the ring is not thereby quatermised, or a ring carbon atom; wherein said rings in (RTc1) to (RTc3) are optionally substituted on an available carbon atom by 1 or 2 substituents independently selected from hydroxy, (1-4C)alkoxy, amino, cyano, azido, (2-4C)alkenyloxy, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, (1-4C)alkylamino, (2-4C)alkenylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkylcarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkylthiocarbonylamino, (1-4C)alkyl-OCO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CO—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-NH—CS—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-SO₂—NH—, (1-4C)alkyl-S(O)_(q)— (wherein q is 0, 1 or 2), (3-6C)cycloalkyl or (3-6C)cycloalkenyl; or RT is selected from the group (RTd) cyano, nitro, azido, formyl, (1-4C)alkylcarbonyl or (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl; and wherein at each occurrence of an RT substituent containing an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkenyl moiety in (RTa), (RTb) or (RTc1) to (RTc3) each such moiety is optionally further substituted on an available carbon atom with one or more substituents independently selected from F and Cl and/or by one cyano group; Q is selected from Q1 to Q10:

wherein R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; wherein A₁ is carbon or nitrogen; B₁ is O or S (or, in Q9 only, NH); X_(q) is O, S or N—R¹ (wherein R¹ is hydrogen, (1-4C)alkyl or hydroxy-(1-4C)alkyl); and wherein in Q7 each A₁ is independently selected from carbon or nitrogen, with a maximum of 2 nitrogen heteroatoms in the 6-membered ring, and Q7 is linked to T via any of the A₁ atoms (when A₁ is carbon), and linked in the 5-membered ring via the specified carbon atom, or via A₁ when A₁ is carbon; Q8 and Q10 are linked to T via either of the specified carbon atoms in the 5-membered ring, and linked in the benzo-ring via either of the two specified carbon atoms on either side of the linking bond shown; and Q9 is linked via either of the two specified carbon atoms on either side of the linking bond shown; wherein T is selected from the groups in (TA) & (TB) below (wherein AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a and CY are defined herein); (TA) T is selected from the following groups (TA1) and (TA2):

wherein: in (TA1), ( )o₁ is 0 or 1 and represents a chain of carbon atoms (optionally substituted as defined for AR1) of length o₁ and M is a bond joining the adjacent carbon atoms, or M represents one or two carbon atoms, and defines a 4- to 7-membered monocyclic ring, which ring may optionally have one of (i) one double bond between any two ring carbon atoms; or (ii) a C1-C3 bridge connecting any two appropriate, non-adjacent ring carbon atoms, which bridge may optionally contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or (iii) a C2-C5 cyclic moiety including a ring carbon atom to define a spiro C2-C5 ring system, which ring may optionally contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or (iv) a C1-C4 bridge connecting adjacent carbon atoms to define a fused ring, wherein a C2-C4 bridge may optionally contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; wherein Rc is as defined hereinafter; wherein in (TA2), ( )n₁ and ( )o₁ are independently 0, 1 or 2 and represent chains of carbon atoms (optionally substituted as defined for AR1) of length n₁ and o₁ respectively, and define a 4- to 8-membered monocyclic ring, which ring may optionally have one of (i) a C1-C3 bridge connecting any two appropriate, non-adjacent ring carbon atoms, which bridge contains one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or (ii) a C2-C5 cyclic moiety including a ring carbon atom to define a spiro C2-C5 ring system, which ring may optionally contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; or (iii) a C1-C4 bridge connecting adjacent carbon atoms to define a fused ring, wherein a C2-C4 bridge may optionally contain one heteroatom selected from oxygen or >NRc; wherein Rc is as defined hereinafter; and wherein in (TA1) and (TA2), X_(1m) and X_(2m) taken together represent R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N═; or X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa; wherein E is an electron withdrawing group selected from —SO₂—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —CS—, —CON(R_(s))—, —SO₂N(R_(s))—, or E may represent a group of the formula R_(3s)—C(═N—O—R_(3s))—C(═O)—, wherein R_(3s) is H or as defined in R_(2s) at (i) below; or, when E is —CON(R_(s))— or —SO₂N(R_(s))—, R_(2s) and R_(s) may link together to form a carbon chain which defines a 5- or 6-membered saturated, unsaturated or partially unsaturated ring linked via the N atom in E, which ring is optionally further substituted by an oxo substituent, and which ring may be optionally fused with a phenyl group to form a benzo-fused system, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from halo, cyano, (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkoxy; ms is 0 or 1; R_(2s) and R_(s) are independently selected from: (i) hydrogen (except where E is —SO₂— or —O—CO—), or (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution) and/or optionally monosubstituted by cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as defined for AR1 herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso that where R_(2s) is —SO₂ or —O—CO— not on the first carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by one or more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or optionally further substituted, by no more than one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein; or (where ms is 0 only); (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′ [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as defined for AR1 herein), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted as defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl, 2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl, 2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl, or 2-(AR2a)ethenyl; or (TB) T is selected from the following groups (TB1) to (TB3):

wherein: X_(1m) and X_(2m) taken together represent R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N═; or X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa; wherein E is an electron withdrawing group selected from —SO₂—, —CO—, —O—CO—, —CO—O—, —CS—, —CON(R_(s))—, —SO₂N(R_(s))—, or E may represent a group of the formula R_(3s)—C(═N—O—R₃s)—C(═O)—, wherein R_(3s) is H or as defined in R_(2s) at (i) below; or, when E is —CON(R_(s))— or —SO₂N(R_(s))—, R_(2s) and R_(s) may link together to form a carbon chain which defines a 5- or 6-membered saturated, unsaturated or partially unsaturated ring linked via the N atom in E, which ring is optionally further substituted by an oxo substituent, and which ring may be optionally fused with a phenyl group to form a benzo-fused system, wherein the phenyl group is optionally substituted by up to three substituents independently selected from halo, cyano, (1-4C)alkyl and (1-4C)alkoxy; ms is 0 or 1; R_(2s) and R_(s) are independently selected from: (i) hydrogen (except where E is —SO₂— or —O—CO—), or (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted by one or more (1-4C)alkanoyl groups (including geminal disubstitution) and/or optionally monosubstituted by cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined hereinafter, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso that where R_(2s) is —SO₂ or —O—CO— not on the first carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by one or more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or optionally further substituted, by no more than one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined herein; or (where ms is 0 only); (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′ [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (as defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl, 2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl, 2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl, or 2-(AR2a)ethenyl; and wherein ( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n_(1′), ( )O_(1′), ( )p₁ and ( )p_(1′) represent chains of carbon atoms (optionally substituted as for AR1) of length( )n₁, ( )o₁, ( )n_(1′), ( )O_(1′), ( )p₁ and ( )p_(1′) respectively, and are independently 0-2, with the proviso that in (TB1) and (TB2) the sum of n₁, o₁, n_(1′) and o_(1′) does not exceed 8 (giving a maximum ring size of 14 in (TB1) and 11 in (TB2)), and in (TB3) the sum of n₁, o₁, n_(1′), o_(1′), p₁ and p_(1′) does not exceed 6 (giving a maximum ring size of 12); wherein Rc is selected from groups (Rc1) to (Rc5): (Rc1) optionally substituted (1-6C)alkyl; (Rc2) R¹³CO—, R¹³SO₂— or R¹³CS— wherein R¹³ is selected from (Rc2a) to (Rc2e): (Rc2a) AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a, CY; (Rc2b) hydrogen, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], ethenyl, 2-(1-4C)alkylethenyl, 2-cyanoethenyl 2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl, 2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl, 2-(AR2a)ethenyl; (Rc2c) optionally substituted (1-10C)alkyl; (Rc2d) R¹⁴C(O)O(1-6C)alkyl wherein R¹⁴ is AR1, AR2, (1-4C)alkylamino (the (1-4C)alkyl group being optionally substituted by (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl or by carboxy), benzyloxy-(1-4C)alkyl or (1-10C)alkyl {optionally substituted as defined for (Rc2c)}; (Rc2e) R¹⁵O— wherein R¹⁵ is benzyl, (1-6C)alkyl {optionally substituted as defined for (Rc2c)}, CY, or AR2b; (Rc3) hydrogen, cyano, 2-cyanoethenyl, 2-cyano-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkylaminocarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-((1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl, 2-nitroethenyl, 2-nitro-2-((1-4C)alkyl)ethenyl, 2-(AR1)ethenyl, 2-(AR2)ethenyl, or of the formula (Rc3a)

wherein X⁰⁰ is —OR¹⁷, —SR¹⁷, —NHR¹⁷and —N(R¹⁷)₂; wherein R¹⁷ is hydrogen (when X⁰⁰ is —NHR¹⁷and —N(R¹⁷)₂), and R¹⁷ is (1-4C)alkyl, phenyl or AR2 (when X⁰⁰ is —OR¹⁷, —SR¹⁷ and —NHR¹⁷); and R¹⁶ is cyano, nitro, (1-4C)alkylsulfonyl, (4-7C)cycloalkylsulfonyl, phenylsulfonyl, (1-4C)alkanoyl and (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl; (Rc4) trityl, AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b; (Rc5) RdOC(Re)═CH(C═O)—, RfC(═O)C(═O)—, RgN═C(Rh)C(═O)— or RiNHC(Rj)=CHC(═O)— wherein Rd is (1-6C)alkyl; Re is hydrogen or (1-6C)alkyl, or Rd and Re together form a (3-4C)alkylene chain; Rf is hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl, hydroxy(1-6C)alkyl, (1-6C)alkoxy(1-6C)alkyl, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkoxy, (1-6C)alkoxy(1-6C)alkoxy, hydroxy(2-6C)alkoxy, (1-4C)alkylamino(2-6C)alkoxy, di-(1-4C)alkylamino(2-6C)alkoxy; Rg is (1-6C)alkyl, hydroxy or (1-6C)alkoxy; Rh is hydrogen or (1-6C)alkyl; Ri is hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl, AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b and Rj is hydrogen or (1-6C)alkyl; wherein CY is an optionally substituted cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentenyl or cyclohexenyl ring.
 2. A compound as claimed in claim 1, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein Q is selected from Q1, Q2, Q4, Q6 and Q9.
 3. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein T is TA1.
 4. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein T is TA2 or TB.
 5. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 of the formula (IA), or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof

wherein HET is 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole or tetrazole; or HET is a di-hydro version of pyrimidine, pyridazine, pyrazine, 1,2,3-triazine, 1,2,4-triazine, 1,3,5-triazine and pyridine; R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; and T is selected from (TA1), (TA2) and (TB1) to (TB3), wherein (TA1), (TA2) and (TB1) to (TB3) are as hereinbefore defined.
 6. A compound as claimed in claim 5, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein HET is 1,2,3-triazole, 1,2,4-triazole or tetrazole; R² and R³ are independently hydrogen or fluoro; and T is selected from (TA1a & b), (TA2a) and (TB1a & b); or in-vivo hydrolysable esters or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof.
 7. A compound as claimed in claim 6, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein RT is selected from (RTa) or (RTb) as hereinbefore defined.
 8. A compound as claimed in claim 7, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein RT is optionally substituted methyl.
 9. A compound as claimed in claim 5, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein HET is unsubstituted.
 10. A compound as claimed claim 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa; and when ms is 0, R_(2s) is selected from (i) hydrogen, a (1-6C) alkyl group {optionally monosubstituted by (1-4C)alkanoyl group, cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1 defined herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups (including geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution), and/or optionally further substituted, by no more than one of each of, oxo, —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein; or (iii) cyano, —CO—NRvRw, —CO—NRv Rw′, —SO₂—NRvRw, —SO₂—NRv Rw′ [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1 defined herein), or a heteroaryl group selected from AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a (optionally substituted as defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, trifluoromethyl; and when ms is 1, E is —CO— or —SO₂— and R_(2s) is selected from: (i) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by cyano, cyano-imino, (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1 defined herein), optionally substituted heteroaryl group of the formula AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)—(q is 0, 1 or 2); and/or (with the proviso that where R_(2s) is —SO₂— or —O—CO— not on the first carbon atom of the (1-6C) alkyl chain) optionally substituted by one or more groups (including geminal disubstitution) each independently selected from hydroxy and fluoro, and/or optionally monosubstituted by —NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino, N-(1-4C)alkyl-N-(1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)NH— or (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(p)-((1-4C)alkyl)N— (p is 1 or 2)}; or (ii) an optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl group of the formula AR1, AR2, AR2a, AR2b, AR3, AR3a, AR3b, AR4, AR4a or CY all as defined (and optionally substituted as defined) herein.
 11. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, wherein X_(1m) is O═ and X_(2m) is R_(2s)—(E)_(ms)—N—, and vice versa; and when ms is 0, R_(2s) is selected from (i) hydrogen, (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or optionally substituted by one or more fluoro-groups (including geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution)}; or (iii) —CO—NRvRw [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl], —CO—NRv Rw′ [wherein Rv is hydrogen or (1-4C)alkyl; Rw′ is phenyl (optionally substituted as for AR1 defined herein)], (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl; and when ms is 1, E is —CO— or —SO₂— and R_(2s) is selected from: (i) (1-6C)alkyl {optionally monosubstituted by (1-4C)alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, (1-4C)alkylS(O)_(q)— (q is 0, 1 or 2); or optionally substituted by one or more fluoro groups (including geminal disubstitution); or optionally substituted by one or more hydroxy groups (excluding geminal disubstitution)}, (1-6C)alkanoylamino, (1-4C)alkoxycarbonylamino.
 12. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof wherein R2 and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen and fluorine.
 13. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof wherein Rc is R¹³CO— and R¹³ is (1-4C)alkoxycarbonyl, hydroxy(1-4C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkyl (optionally substituted by one or two hydroxy groups, or by an (1-4C)alkanoyl group), (1-4C)alkylamino, dimethylamino(1-14C)alkyl, (1-4C)alkoxymethyl, (1-4C)alkanoylmethyl, (1-4C)alkanoyloxy(1-4C)alkyl, (1-5C)alkoxy or 2-cyanoethyl.
 14. A compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof wherein Rc is R¹³CO— and R¹³ is 1,2-dihydroxyethyl, 1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl, 1,2,3-trihydroxyprop-1-yl, methoxycarbonyl, hydroxymethyl, methyl, methylamino, dimethylaminomethyl, methoxymethyl, acetoxymethyl, methoxy, methylthio, naphthyl, tert-butoxy or 2-cyanoethyl.
 16. A method for producing an antibacterial effect in a warm blooded animal, comprising combining a compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, or in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.
 17. A pharmaceutical composition which comprises a compound as claimed in claim 1 or 2, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or an in-vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier.
 18. A method of manufacture of a compound as claimed in claim 1 and pharmaceutically-acceptable salts and in vivo hydrolysable esters thereof, according to a process (a) to (h) as follows (wherein the variables are as defined above unless otherwise stated): (a) by modifying a substituent in or introducing a substituent into another compound of formula (I); or (b) by reaction of a compound of formula (II):

wherein LG is a displaceable group, with a compound of the formula (III): HET  (III) wherein HET is HET-H free-base form or HET-anion formed from the free base form; or (c) by reaction of a compound of the formula (IV): T—Q—LG1  (IV) wherein LG1 is an isocyanate, amine or urethane group with an epoxide of the formula (V); or with a related compound of formula (VA) where the hydroxy group at the internal C-atom is conventionally protected and where the leaving group Y at the terminal C-atom is a conventional leaving group; or

(d) by oxidation (i) with an aminating agent of a lower valent sulfur compound (VI), or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TA2), or a bi-, or tri-cyclic ring analogue of (VI) which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TB); or (ii) with an oxygenating agent of a lower valent sulfur compound (VII), or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TA2), or a bi-, or tri-cyclic ring analogue of (VII) which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TB);

where n=0 or 1 and ( )x and ( )x′ are chains of length x and x′; or (e) (i) by coupling of a compound of formula (VIII):

wherein LG2 is a group HET as hereinbefore defined and LG3 is a replaceable substituent, with a compound of the formula (IX), or an analogue thereof, which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TA1), in which the link is via an sp² carbon atom, or (TA2), or a bi-, or tri-cyclic ring analogue of (IX) which is suitable to give a T substituent as defined by (TB);

where n=0 or 1 and ( )x and ( )x′ are chains of length x and x′; D is NH or CH═C—Lg4 where Lg4 is a leaving group; or (e) (ii) by coupling, of a compound of formula (X):

wherein LG2 is a group HET as hereinbefore defined, with a compound [Aryl]-LG4, where LG4 is a replaceable substituent; or (f) for HET as 1,2,3-triazole by cycloaddition via the azide (wherein e.g. LG in (II) is azide); or (g) Where HET is 4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole by reaction of a compound of formula (II) where LG═NH2 (primary amine) with a compound of formula (XI), namely the arenesulfonylhydrazone of a methyl ketone that is further geminally substituted on the methyl group by two substituents (Y′ and Y″) capable of being eliminated from this initial, and the intermediate, substituted hydrazones as HY′ and HY″ (or as conjugate bases thereof);

(h) by reduction of a compound formed by process (e) (i) in which the T substituent (as defined by (TA1)) is linked via an sp² carbon atom, to form the saturated analogue; and thereafter if necessary: (i) removing any protecting groups; (ii) forming a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt; (iii) forming an in-vivo hydrolysable ester. 